These Orphans Need a Headmaster (3) In the end, Ivan was the first to raise his hand.
Meaning he had decided to start revealing information—carefully.
No matter what, he had to save Priscilla’s life first.
(Of course, it wasn’t only Priscilla’s life.
Ivan had no confidence whatsoever that he could defeat Enrique.) “…I heard you’re raising a disciple.” “Oh?” Enrique tilted his head with a deep smile.
For a brief moment, Ivan gripped the haft of his axe tightly before forcing himself to relax.
That’s the expression that monster makes when he’s in a bad mood.
“Go on.” “I heard they’re planning to enroll at St.
Jansk University this year.” “Hmm…
and?” “Someone seemed rather worried.
If anything happened to them, it would be a tremendous loss for the nation.” What Ivan meant was this: ‘Elizaveta was worried about your disciple.
She asked me to protect them.’ ‘That’s what I’ve been doing lately.
You know how Elizaveta is.’ ‘But if you don’t catch my meaning…
you’ll think I’ve sided with Alexander, won’t you?’ What Enrique heard, however, was something completely different.
‘I’ve already identified your disciple’s identity, whereabouts, and personal information.’ ‘Someone paid me handsomely for it.’ ‘If they happen to get hurt somewhere…
that would be unfortunate.
So watch yourself.’ How dare.
How dare someone stab a blade into the back of their great master?
Whose request had he accepted?
Alexander’s?
That bastard is finally trying to get rid of me?
No, this bastard was no better.
If I’d received a contract to kill him, I would’ve refused—or at least warned him beforehand!
Instead, he comes barging in, threatens me, and now he’s blackmailing me using my disciple?
And this is supposed to be my “disciple”…?
What kind of monster did I raise?
If the only disciples who survived the last war turned out like this…
then what in the world…
Enrique nodded, smiling broadly.
“I see.
So that’s how it is.” “Right.
Nothing serious.” “Hmm…
nothing…
serious?” “Mm.” Short replies passed back and forth through the icy atmosphere.
Still, Ivan relaxed a little.
Enrique seemed irritated, but she also appeared to have understood the situation well enough.
If that was the case…
Then the problem was solved.
After such a warning, even when the “tutorial” began, Enrique’s disciple wouldn’t be in any real danger.
Enrique would protect them personally.
Lucky.
Meeting her had only happened because Priscilla had been kidnapped, yet the results had exceeded expectations.
Now only three of the protagonists’ tutorials remain.
And the earliest one won’t happen for another two weeks…
“Lucia!
Lucia!
Come in!” “Yeees, Master!” The reception room door opened with a cheerful voice.
A young woman in her late teens entered, her glossy chestnut hair swaying behind her.
Enrique looked at Ivan with an almost testing gaze before smiling.
“Come.
Say hello.
This is your senior disciple.” “I’ve heard so much about you, Sir Petrovich!
Master always told me that if I could become even half the man you are, I’d be doing well!” No.
Don’t praise him.
The ungrateful brat.
Grinding her teeth, Enrique forced herself to smile.
“…You’re human?” “Pardon?
Of course I am…” “Of course…?
Do you know your master’s race?” “Master is human!” Lucia puffed out her chest proudly.
“Master may have to survive on a rather unusual diet, but she cherishes me and protects this country.
She is a true hero!
If you ask me what truly defines a race, my answer would be ‘humanity,’ Sir Petrovich!” “Oh…” Ivan couldn’t help but admire her answer.
After the war against the demons, the Allied Kingdom had become fiercely hostile toward other races and demi-humans.
Naturally so.
Most people walking the streets had lost close family members to demons.
(Elves were another matter.
That pointy-eared race belonged to the Allied Kingdom, yet was still widely despised because of their insufferable personalities.) In such a world, saying that race wasn’t defined by biology but by one’s humanity…
That kind of open-minded thinking belonged in twenty-first-century Earth, not this miserable fantasy world.
And upon hearing such a refreshingly radical answer— (at least by this world’s standards) Enrique’s face practically melted with happiness.
“See?
I’ve taught her everything I know.
It’ll take time before she truly masters it, but she’s learned it all.
If there’s another Hero’s Party in the next generation, she’ll be the perfect choice.” Certainly.
Since she could walk beneath the sun, she’d fit into the Hero’s Party even better.
And Enrique’s words— “I’ve taught her everything, though mastery will take time.” Those words gave Ivan another realization.
She’s talking about the skill tree.
In most games, characters automatically learned new skills whenever they leveled up.
Which, if you thought about it, was absurd.
Whether they were adventuring or not, knowledge simply appeared inside their heads.
Apparently this game handled things differently.
“You’ve already learned it.
You simply lack experience and refinement.” Wasn’t that the perfect explanation?
Ivan nodded.
“She’s a disciple I’m proud of.
Better than me…
no, better than all of us.
I found her late in life, and she’s precious to me.” She looked directly at Ivan.
“So…
I don’t want to kill you, Ivan.” “…Hm?” Suddenly?
Ivan flinched and instinctively placed a hand back on his axe.
Fighting Enrique alone was already intimidating enough.
Against Enrique and her disciple together, while his hostage remained in enemy hands, inside Enrique’s dungeon— There was no guarantee of victory.
It would be a difficult battle.
Watching Enrique’s hands carefully, Ivan pondered in silence.
“For the sake of our memories together, I’m asking you.” Enrique spoke sincerely.
“Leave this side of the world.
This is my territory.” What She meant was simple.
One assassination organization in this city was enough.
Don’t make money selling blood in the back alleys.
That wasn’t why you retired.
Alexander couldn’t be trusted.
If Ivan insisted on entering politics, he should align himself with Elizaveta instead.
That was the message Enrique desperately wanted to convey.
And then— “So that’s how it ended.” Ivan tightened his grip on his axe and stood.
Enrique…
so you’ve chosen Alexander’s side after all.
Facing a member of the Hero’s Party was clearly beyond the scope of his duties.
But it couldn’t be avoided.
“What did Alexander offer you?
People?
Blood?
Territory?” “…What?” “If you still stand with House Krasilof, then let me ask, in the name of our shared memories.” He stared straight at Enrique.
“Where does your loyalty lie?” “…Huh?” After staring into Ivan’s eyes for a long moment, cold sweat formed on Enrique’s forehead.
“…Wait.” “You didn’t join hands with Alexander?” “What are you talking about?
I’ve never even exchanged a friendly smile with that man.” “…Neither have I.” “…Hm?” Silence settled over the room.
“So…
um…” Enrique hesitated.
“You gathered up orphans and taught them assassination techniques?” “Our orphanage’s curriculum complies with the standard educational program.” “Then what about that kid?
They knew proper ambush techniques!” “That was the children’s own effort.
They trained in many different fields while preparing for employment after graduation.” “So you didn’t teach them?” “I did not.” Silence fell again.
So…
they were just an ordinary fifteen-year-old orphan who happened to sneak around quietly?
And I kidnapped that child…
lured this idiot here…
and threatened him…?
Wait.
“Then what’s this about my disciple?
Why is my disciple suddenly coming out of your mouth?” “Elizaveta requested it.
A large number of the Hero’s Party’s children will be enrolling among this year’s freshmen, so she asked me to protect them from the shadows.” He tilted his head.
“Weren’t you informed?” “I wasn’t!” Enrique exploded.
“That little brat!
Why would she ask you when I’m perfectly alive?!
Who’s she calling obsolete?!” After shouting, Enrique collapsed limply onto the sofa.
“I’m exhausted.
Talking to you is always like this.” She let out a long sigh.
“Why is God so fair?
If only He’d given you some conversational skills.
That’s literally the only thing you’re missing.” “That is incorrect.” Who does this prehistoric fossil think she is, saying that to someone educated in twenty-first-century essay writing?
The Kim Seonwoo inside him nearly burst out in protest before Ivan suppressed him once again.
“See?” Enrique turned toward Lucia.
“This is what your senior disciple is like.
He cuts every sentence in half, so conversations never connect properly.” “Ah…
um…” Lucia awkwardly looked around the reception room, overwhelmed by how quickly the atmosphere had swung from tense to absurd.
“I…
I think you two get along really well!” “That is incorrect.” “What nonsense are you talking about?!” “Haha…” Laughing awkwardly, Lucia quietly closed the door and slipped back outside.
Silence returned.
Taking a sip of tea, Enrique asked, “Want me to bring you another cup?” “No.” The tea had gone cold, but it still tasted excellent.
Besides, Ivan had come from a country where people filled espresso with ice.
He wasn’t particularly concerned about the temperature of coffee.
Thus, the parent meeting for a future St.
Jansk University student concluded successfully.
*** “Headmaaaster!!” The moment the door opened, Priscilla ran out and threw herself into Ivan’s arms.
Ivan gently patted her shoulder a few times before carefully pulling her away.
“From now on, don’t look for work in isolated places.” “Y-Yes!
I…
I was really, really scared!!” “It’s over now.
Don’t worry.” Taking a handkerchief from inside his coat, he wiped away the tears on Priscilla’s cheeks before starting to walk.
Leaving the reception room.
Leaving Enrique’s dungeon.
Passing through the underground waterways.
Returning to the surface.
Out of the back alleys.
Back toward the main streets.
They walked for quite a while without speaking.
Then suddenly— “Um…
Headmaster.” “Hm.” “Just…
just by any chance…” Standing beneath a streetlamp glowing with magical light, Priscilla clutched the hem of her skirt tightly.
“…Are you…
getting ready to leave…?” “Most likely.” Once preparations were complete and the new semester at St.
Jansk University officially began, he would inevitably have to leave the orphanage.
Under a new identity.
As the Gardener, protecting the children of the Hero’s Party.
About three years.
To him, it wasn’t a particularly long time.
But to the orphans— It was different.
Children who had lived their entire lives as war orphans couldn’t bear to lose the home they had only just found.
This was the family they had finally built.
The place they had finally found to sleep.
The home they had fought so hard to obtain.
They had spent their entire lives being abandoned.
Even though only two years had passed…
This orphanage had become the last place they never wanted to lose.
Priscilla continued through her tears.
“I…
I wish…
hic…
you wouldn’t go.
If…
if you disappear…
then we’ll…
hic…” “Hmm…” Ivan removed his coat and draped it over her shoulders.
He fell silent.
He had no memory of ever comforting a child.
Much less a little girl.
The old memories of Kim Seonwoo were no help either.
Kim Seonwoo had spent entire days reading webtoons and web novels while posting 5,700-character hate comments online like some sort of madman.
After that…
There was even less hope.
Having devoted more than half his life to military service, Ivan could think of few ways to speak to someone besides using an axe or a bullet.
“Don’t worry.” He spoke quietly.
“I’ll come back often.” “Where…
where are you going…?” It’s probably fine to tell her this much.
She’s practically my child.
And it’s not exactly sensitive information.
Flustered by Priscilla’s tears, Ivan finally answered.
“St.
Jansk University.” “You…
you’ll definitely come back…?” “I’m not leaving immediately.” “And I’m certainly not leaving forever.” After everything he’d invested into this orphanage— It was as much his home as anyone else’s.
The Headmaster’s office was the only true sanctuary left in his heart.
Firming his resolve, he gently patted Priscilla’s trembling shoulders a couple more times before turning away.
Meanwhile— St.
Jansk University…
I heard the entrance exam is difficult.
Next year’s exam is in November…
Every single child from St.
Vasilisa Orphanage…
Would now begin preparing for the St.
Jansk University entrance examination!