30 Years Have Passed Since the Prologue

8 – 4. These orphans need a director (1)

*

This is a story from the time when I served in the Extinction Unit.

There were generals known as the Demon Army’s Seven Dragon Commanders. Each staking the fate of their respective races, they were, in fact, the ‘heroes’ of their races.

Until the appearance of the hero party, the Allied Kingdoms were easily overwhelmed.

Since the demons, physically superior to humans, gathered by race, there was no way to resist their attempt to conquer the world.

In other words, the war with the Demon Army was, in essence, a war between humans and all other races.

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

“To break the unity of the demons, we need a suppression operation, not a frontal assault.”

Throwing the soldiers of the Allied Kingdoms to somehow hold and delay the front line.

In the meantime, send an ‘assassin’ to assassinate the Seven Dragon Commanders and dismantle the enemy’s unity.

Since the demons were merely a coalition of tribal states under the strongman system, if we could take down the Seven Dragon Commanders, the subordinate generals would each vie for the vacant commander’s position and internal strife would begin.

It was a valid point.

So, in a grand sense, the hero party was nothing more than an assassination squad.

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

That’s why Ivan disliked the hero party.

It was similar to the reason why the Krasilov royal family decided to disband the Extinction Unit.

It was too sharp a sword to be carried even in times of peace.

Ep. 4. These orphans need a director.

Ivan, receiving intelligence on the enrollment schedule of the hero party’s sons and daughters, was enjoying a pleasant leisure.

The timeline he planned was perfect.

First, Esidis, whom he rescued a few days ago.

Then Isabelle, the daughter of Hero Maxmilian. Affiliated with the Tilles Kingdom, she departs in the first week of February.

And immediately after, Oscar, the son of Knight Jil Ver. Also departing from the Tilles Kingdom.

There was no need to worry about these two. Tilles and Krasilov had relatively good diplomatic relations even before the war, and being close by, they had enough time to prepare for a train attack.

And reaching the daughter of the wizard Beolgreen, Elphehehera, was not even planning to take the train in the first place.

Beolgreen’s hometown is an island floating beyond the Black Sea. The Kalion Archipelago. Riding a warship will be safer there than for any other fellow.

Since Krasylofen had no fixed route, it might pass through Tyles, but those who came on a warship in the first place wouldn’t bring an envoy.

Lastly, Enrique’s disciple, Lucia.

This guy is affiliated with the Kingdom of Krasylofen. It means he’s already arrived somewhere in this capital.

Even with a brief check at the very end, there were no issues, and he didn’t even feel a desire to meet quickly.

In other words, if he casually lets slip the train terrorism of the two freshmen scheduled for February, the rest will be resolved at a level where he doesn’t need to intervene personally.

After all, the train terrorism itself is part of the tutorial process.

Through Echidna, he has gained complete confidence. There was no reason for him to take action before enrollment.

Therefore.

“I want to eat kimchi stew.”

He was now spending time jotting down his ‘list of things to eat when returning to Earth’ again.

The time spent in the office, with a cup of coffee and a warm bonfire, was an invaluable leisure time that he wouldn’t exchange with anyone.

Tteokbokki. Not rose tteokbokki. It’s not even the plentiful broth tteokbokki from delivery food franchise style.

The tteokbokki he wanted was the homemade street-style hipster tteokbokki sold in front of the school. He remembered that the most popular place was the one that sprinkled curry powder.

“I want to go home….”

“Are you going to abandon us again?”

“….”

Ivan’s eyes, which were relaxed, suddenly sharpened. Kim Sunwoo’s inner self was crushed by Ivan’s ego, and Ivan alone turned around.

A little child was clinging to the window.

“Since when have you been there…?”

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

“This is the third floor.”

“I’m famous for diligently attending classes!”

“…Is wall climbing part of our indoor curriculum…?”

Ivan walked straight to the window, opened it wide, lifted the giggling child from outside, and carefully put him down inside the room.

“I won! You know that, right?”

“Don’t compete with that. Next time, go through the corridor. It’s dangerous here.”

“Ah, I can only win if I do something like this!”

The St. Basilica Orphanage has a longstanding game. Approach without the orphanage director noticing.

This was a game that was overwhelmingly popular among the children. Since Ivan, the mysterious man who could catch a flying ball from behind without even turning around, participated.

Furthermore, no matter how stealthily one moved, it was impossible to hide around Ivan.

This rugged and sharp man, contrary to appearances, was quite harmless, making him one of the best playmates for kids who judged people more by their actions than their looks.

“I’ll make a cup of cocoa for you, so drink up and leave.”

“Yes, sir!”

Ivan didn’t resist this either. After all, the orphans would have to find a way to survive once they graduated from the orphanage.

If he could deceive his own senses, he wouldn’t starve no matter where he ended up.

Ivan sent the cheerful little one away and regained his peaceful leisure time.

Isabel had about two weeks left until she boarded the train.

Until then, he was free.

There were times when he thought like that. Until one of the orphans was suddenly kidnapped.

*

“Hey, what organization are you from?”

“No, gentlemen, I don’t think you understand. If our director finds out about this, you’re in real trouble!”

“Wow, look at this kid! Someone might think we’re the ones who got caught!”

Krashilov’s capital, Prichenkaya, was one of the prominent cities on the continent. Naturally, every city had areas known as “back alleys,” and Prichenkaya also had several “slum areas.”

Even among the gangs and outlaws in the back alleys, there were those who stood out, the notorious groups classified as “assassination organizations.”

If someone stabbed someone with a knife, they would naturally face the judgment of the law. The higher the status of the person they targeted, the stricter the law tended to be, but the rewards also skyrocketed.

So, those in assassination organizations were the ones who believed that after putting their lives on the line and swinging a knife, as long as they got paid, it didn’t matter if they disappeared into the gallows’ mist.

There were no glamorous assassins like Leon who gracefully appeared in the darkness, swiftly eliminated their target, and vanished.

“So, who is your director anyway?”

“I-Ivan Petrovich! Have you heard the name? Right?”

“What? Ahahahahaha!”

Of course, these guys had heard the name Ivan.

They had heard the surname Petrovich as well.

Ivan was the most common name in Krashilov, and Petrovich was the most common surname, wasn’t it?

Even the name of the saintly king who had once ruled was Ivan.

It was like laughing first when someone asked if your name was Kim Cheol-su. The foot soldiers of Prichenkaya’s back alley assassination organization chuckled.

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

“Wait.”

When the organization members jumped in surprise, lowering their weapons and stepping back, they made way for someone walking along the path. Step by step. One person emerged from the darkness of the alley.

“Who is it?”

“Ivan Petrov, Petrovich… Headmaster, sir!”

The man briefly scanned Ivan from top to bottom, then smiled broadly.

“So, the audacious retiree was busy organizing an assassination squad from behind?”

The students of St. Basil’s Orphanage, who had mastered the art of stealthily approaching and startling Ivan as if it were a traditional game, might seem that way to someone else’s eyes.

Especially to an expert among experts. The most adept in this field among humanity. To Enrique, the eyes of ‘Shadow Blade’ Enrique, it couldn’t be otherwise.

Retiring with rumors of death and neatly planning to start a new life. Well, dogs don’t change their habits. How could a special forces unit fix such habits?

Enrique chuckled and nodded.

Ivan Petrovich, identified as the leader of the malicious organization that collected orphans for assassination training!

*

“Someone has been kidnapped?”

“Yes, Headmaster! It’s… Priscilla, remember?”

“Every time.”

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

Priscilla. No surname. 17 years old. War orphan.

Unknown parents. She remembered being abandoned near a military base during the war.

Although mischievous, she was fundamentally bold and talented. Despite nearing graduation age, Ivan wasn’t overly worried.

These days, she seemed to be looking for a job here and there…

“Who, where, when?”

“I’m not sure of the details, but only Priscilla’s coat came back… This is probably a threat, right?”

“Most likely.”

Ivan carefully examined the coat handed over by the teacher.

Marks on the sleeves, a heavily tousled collar. One button hung loose until it fell off.

Without much information, Ivan swiftly inspected it, but suddenly, his hand stopped.

A seemingly ordinary fingerprint was imprinted. A faint scar, subtly covered by the muddy fingerprint, would go unnoticed unless carefully observed.

A scar shaped like a cross on the palm. A mark of the nasty operatives of the organization.

“Enrique.”

There couldn’t be a foolish guy kidnapping orphans for money, so this is 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.

The Shadow Blade, Enrique. In other words,

the Grandmaster’s summons.

The Annihilation Squad was Enrique’s creation.