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“It won’t be a difficult task for you.”

Raon nodded while meeting Merlin’s eyes.

“In that case…”

Merlin gently stroked her long ear.

“I’m obviously going to grant your request.”

The rabbit’s red eyes were cute, but also frightening at the same time.

“What do you want me to do? Ask me anything.”

Merlin’s paw wobbled as she announced that she would grant any request.

Hmm…

Wrath licked his lips while leering at Merlin.

She’s become an errand girl who will do anything for you. She’s a bit scary though…

‘I’m not planning to use her like that.’

The only reason he was asking Merlin about it was because the number of children was unexpectedly high. He definitely wouldn’t have called her if it wasn’t for the children’s sake.

You are being strangely gentle now, even though you are usually an emotionless demon.

Wrath shook his head because of Raon’s incomprehensible behavior.

Raon chuckled while watching Wrath click his tongue.

‘It’s definitely more beneficial for me to take advantage of Merlin, but… I’m never going to control people’s emotions. Never.’

He would’ve been no different from Derus Robert, who bound him with his brainwashing in his previous life, if he decided to control Merlin by taking advantage of her favor.

Becoming like him was one thing he wanted to avoid at all costs.

“I’ll write a letter, and I’d like you to deliver it to someone.”

“A letter? Is that it?”

Merlin tilted her head because of his unexpected request.

“Yes. That’s enough for me.”

“But you are planning to rescue the children in that facility. I can lend you my help.”

“It’s fine. I have no intention of asking you to kill people.”

“Huff…”

Merlin stood on all fours while groaning in excitement. Her shoulders were trembling slightly.

“That gave me the chills…”

“You are imagining things.”

“It’s been a long time since the last time I felt this way.”

“Haa…”

Raon sighed deeply. There seemed to be a serious misunderstanding, but Raon decided to not talk about it because he figured that it would be meaningless to explain.

“I’m happy that you are worried about me, but I can grant any of your requests. Just tell me, and I’ll do it.”

“I just want you to deliver the letter.”

Raon shook his hand. He took out the papers that he’d prepared in advance and wrote different things in each of them before giving them to Merlin.

“Please deliver the rectangular letter to the Ragged Saint at House Yonaan.”

Since the Ragged Saint Federick was researching brainwashing, Raon figured he would be able to undo the children’s incomplete brainwashing.

“Ah, the Ragged Saint. Yes, that’s how I met you the second time.”

Merlin blushed and looked up to the sky while reminiscing about their encounter. Raon would’ve gotten goosebumps from that, but it was bearable because she looked like a rabbit.

“And please deliver the triangular letter to Sir Borini Kitten in the Owen Kingdom.”

“Borini Kitten? That’s the guy who lost to you.”

“Yes.”

Raon nodded calmly.

‘I can trust him.’

He wanted to bring the children to Zieghart, but he couldn’t do that because he needed to hide his identity. Entrusting them to Borini Kitten was the best course of action, since he was trustworthy, and the Owen Kingdom was located nearby.

Since he was an exemplary knight, Raon expected him to grant his request and personally take care of everything.

That stick guy was indeed a nice guy.

Wrath nodded while thinking about Borini Kitten.

He was the complete opposite of you. You are just a fiend.

‘That’s why I’m leaving them to him.’

Raon chuckled.

“It really is an easy request.”

Merlin snorted. She seemed disappointed that it was too easy.

“I really can kill them all for you…”

“I don’t need it. When can you deliver the letters?”

Raon declined by shaking his hand.

“I can do it right now.”

“Then please do so.”

“Alright.”

Merlin extended her front paw with a smile, and the letters disappeared like spring snow. Raon could guess that she had transferred it to her main body.

“Since I granted your request, you also need to grant mine.”

Merlin lowered her paw and rolled her lips into a smile.

“I’ll do it if it doesn’t inconvenience me or other people, while it’s also within my ability and I like the idea.”

Raon gave a bunch of conditions just in case.

“There are so many conditions.”

Merlin chuckled. She seemed to love the fact that she was talking to Raon.

“But I think you will accept it.”

She waved her front paw while maintaining her smile until the end.

“See you next time. You know what comes next, don’t you? This one said it likes parsley.”

“I’m telling you, stop asking me and prepare it in advance by your—”

Raon walked up to Merlin and shouted, but the rabbit’s eyes had already returned to that of a feral animal.

Kyung.

The rabbit wrinkled its nose and came up next to Raon to ask for food.

“Erm…”

Raon swallowed nervously and leaned forward.

“I-I don’t have any parsley…”

He’d gotten a bunch of animal feed from Dorian just in case. He had some grains, nuts, strawberries and even some dried bugs but he obviously didn’t have any parsley.

“…You should pick among those.”

He awkwardly placed the feed on the ground.

Kyung!

The rabbit stared at the feed for a while before it kicked the grains and nuts away. It then trampled on the bug and ate one strawberry and took two with its mouth.

Tap.

Then it kicked Raon’s ankle bone with its back leg before running away into the bush.

Wahahaha!

Wrath started giggling while watching Raon’s bewilderment.

The rabbit just beat you! Look at how unsightly you are!

He was so overjoyed that his laughter didn’t show any sign of stopping.

“Haaa…”

Raon sighed deeply and sank on the ground.

‘I’m so tired.’

He couldn’t even think—it was as if he had just finished a fierce battle. Talking with Merlin was so exhausting that he wanted to avoid encountering her if possible.

So she’s your natural enemy!

Wrath took that rare opportunity to continuously make fun of him with a grin on his face.

‘Please stop.’

Raon shook his head and looked at the orphanage once again, and a blue-haired middle-aged man was walking away from the building. He had a gentle appearance, but his eyes were cold, and a faint scar was carved into his left cheek.

‘He was the one?’

The Master presence he’d noticed from the orphanage belonged to Lisbon. He was Martio’s henchman, and one of the people Raon knew from his previous life.

‘He’s in charge of a whole facility now. What a successful life. Is this what they call fate?’

Raon’s expression turned into a frightening cold smile as he looked down on Lisbon.

‘I guess I’ll be having a nightmare tonight.’

* * *

My life was hell.

I was kidnapped even before I lost my milk tooth, and I was confined underground. I couldn’t even tell where I was.

The trainers were around me.

There were other kids like me, and they taught us how to survive and how to kill while calling us dogs.

The torture tore apart our skin and scratched at our bones to teach us how to withstand the pain, the blades stabbing our bodies taught us about the lethal parts in the human body, and our battle practice consisted of monsters and beasts chasing after us.

I wanted to cry, but I had to smile. I wanted to die, but I was forced to live.

I couldn’t even think about running away or improving my situation.

I believed the treatment I was receiving was as natural as the sun rising in the morning and setting in the evening.

I later learned that it was the brainwashing’s effect. The suggestion was crushing my brain, and the option called escape was completely removed.

It was a hellish day. Disobedience, failure, and a disappointing performance all resulted in death, and I somehow managed to survive by walking on the tightrope dividing life and death.

They didn’t even provide the necessities of life, and all human desires were trampled upon. However, there was still one hope.

My friend.

It was the existence of a friend who was using the same room as me after being kidnapped just like me.

He was called Number 9.

He had a cute and round face. I didn’t know how old he was, but he was at least older than me.

The only time I could be with him was the four hours of bedtime, but my desire for death that kept increasing during the day faded away whenever I spoke to him.

He listened to me and told me that a better day would await us if we kept enduring it.

I didn’t know what a better day meant because I couldn’t remember my life outside the facility. I just thought it must be a good thing since he said so.

We smiled at each other, even though we were starving and there was nothing funny about it.

That was the only hope I had back then.

Years passed, and by the time our education was complete, they had gathered all of the kids in the underground cavern.

The trainers made the kids who used the same room step forward together.

Those two children were made to fight. More precisely, they were forced to kill each other.

Obviously, none of them obeyed.

The roommate was the only friend they had in that hellish place.

That was the case for me, and the same went for Number 9.

We dropped the daggers from our hands and raised our arms. We were determined to die at our trainer’s hands rather than attacking our friends.

However, that line of thought completely disappeared the moment the blue-haired trainer with a small scar on his left cheek opened his mouth.

“Kill him.”

As soon as he said that, I was unable to control my brain or my body.

I picked up the dagger from the ground and charged at Number 9.

Number 9 was also attacking me with his dagger, his eyes turned red with animosity.

We unleashed all of the assassination techniques we’d learned with the intention of killing each other.

Even though our hands were used to tending each other’s wounds at daybreak, they were thrusting the blade instead into the opponent’s vitals.

Number 9 and I were evenly matched.

My flesh was torn apart and white bone protruded from it.

It hurt. It hurt so much, but the pain didn’t even matter.

I just didn’t want to fight against my friend.

I was hoping that he would kill me instead, but my dagger was stabbing his heart before I realized it.

“……”

Number 9 didn’t say anything. He gently tapped my shoulder before he died with a smile on his face.

That was how my only friend’s life faded away, and I didn’t even know his real name.

Tears were flowing from my eyes, and that was the last time I shed tears in my previous life.

That was when my emotions sank into darkness.

* * *

* * *

“…leader.”

“…squad leader.”

“Vice squad leader!”

Raon opened his eyes upon hearing that cheerful voice. Dorian’s round face was floating in front of him.

“Is that you, Dorian?”

Dorian was tilting his head. He looked somewhat similar to Number 9, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time.

“I’m surprised that you were actually sleeping just now. It’s time to start the operation.”

Dorian pointed at the dark sky.

……

Unexpectedly, Wrath was watching them without saying anything.

“I see.”

Raon nodded and stood up.

‘I didn’t expect to have that dream.’

It was probably because he saw Lisbon that he fell asleep right before the operation and even had a dream from his previous life. Raon agreed with Dorian that it was a strange thing to happen.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes. I’ll protect the children even if I have to die for them!”

Dorian resolutely nodded.

“It’s all meaningless if you end up dying.”

“But still…”

“I understand your feelings. You have to survive at all costs.”

Darkness welled up in Raon’s eyes as he looked down at the orphanage.

“Let’s go.”

* * *

“Hmm…”

Number 45, the girl who worked as a guide under the name Pine, narrowed her eyes while holding Number 86’s hand.

“This is rather unusual, isn’t it?”

“I agree. They aren’t making us work or train.”

The training never stopped, even during an earthquake or a thunderstorm, but they even got some palatable food on top of skipping training and work. It was an unprecedented occurrence since the trainers never allowed that to happen.

“It would be nice if it continued this way.”

Number 86 hoped and smiled faintly.

“I’m a bit worried about this.”

Number 45 sighed briefly. Since the trainers had kidnapped them to raise them as assassins, there was no way they were letting them free for no reason. Her hands were trembling with the worry that a terrible thing might occur.

“Let’s think positively.”

Number 86 shook her head and firmly held her hand.

“They put a lot of effort into teaching us for the past years, so they wouldn’t kill us for no reason.”

“That’s true.”

Number 45 nodded. She also believed that they wouldn’t simply discard them after all the time they spent educating them. She decided to consider it a break, just like Number 86 had said.

“Let’s sleep now.”

They were about to lie down on the bed since it was time to sleep, but the door was opened, and a masked man bobbed his hand at them.

“Come out, both of you.”

“Yes.”

“Yes…”

Refusal wasn’t an option. They were forced to obey the moment they heard his voice.

Number 45 went out to the cavern along with Number 86. The other kids were already lined up.

They stood at the back of the line, and the fourth trainer went onto the platform.

“Let’s start the battle. Number 45 and 86, come forward since you were the last ones to come out.”

“Yes.”

Number 45 and 86 swallowed nervously and went ahead. The other kids were also trembling, and they seemed to have noticed something bad was about to happen.

“Hold your daggers.”

The trainer ordered, and Number 45 and 86 held their deadly sharp daggers in their hands.

Number 45 narrowed her eyes upon noticing the extreme sharpness of the dagger.

‘This isn’t normal.’

They had sparred countless times in the past with real blades, but it never felt so frightening before.

“Now fight.”

While Number 45 was staring at Number 86’s trembling eyes with a dagger in her hand, the trainer continued.

“Until you kill your opponent.”

“What?”

Number 45 widened her eyes and looked around. However, the fourth trainer didn’t explain any further. He simply bobbed his chin, telling them to start the fight.

“Wh-what do you mean by kill…?”

“It is what it is. I’m telling you to fight until the opponent in front of you is dead.”

“Ah…”

Her heart skipped a beat upon hearing his cold voice.

“Uuh…”

Number 45 looked ahead of her with clattering teeth. Number 86 must’ve felt the same way because her face was completely pale.

And her appearance reminded her of the time they spent together.

They’d been comforting and caring for each other. That memory was the only hope they felt in that underground of despair, and she couldn’t even move her hand anymore.

‘It’s okay.’

Number 45 firmly closed her eyes and dropped her dagger. It was the expression of her resolve, that she was okay with it even if Number 86 killed her.

Clank.

However, the falling sound of the dagger resounded twice. She opened her eyes and noticed that another dagger had been dropped at Number 86’s feet. She understood that Number 86 also didn’t want to attack her.

“Ah…”

The fact that they were on the same wavelength, and the fact that the affection was mutual, made her happy—but she was also sad at the same time because they had to meet in such a cruel place. She felt like she was going to cry despite the emotional control.

“I-I can’t fight against her.”

Number 45 raised her hand. She expressed her unwillingness to fight and looked at the trainer. She felt like Number 86 and the other kids’ gazes were supporting her from behind.

“I see. I knew this was going to happen.”

The fourth trainer lowered his voice. That nonchalant voice made a chill run down her spine.

“…Kill her.”

Kill her.

As soon as the order to kill reached her brain, Number 45’s hand picked up the dagger from the ground regardless of her will. Number 86 also straightened her back with a dagger in her hand.

Tap!

Number 45 charged forward while holding the dagger in a reverse grip.

‘What? What’s happening?!’

She couldn’t control her body anymore. She was moving faster than ever to slam the dagger toward Number 86’s neck.

Clank!

And she wasn’t the only one who was suddenly changed. Number 86 was also trying to kill her with an unprecedented amount of murderous aura around her.

The two girls, who became the only reason to live for each other after sharing the room for a long time, were thrusting their daggers against each other like marionettes.

Pssh!

Blood spurted from Number 45’s chest, and a lump of flesh got cut from Number 86’s shoulder.

However, the two girls didn’t even seem to feel the pain as they charged once again to stab each other.

Whaam!

Number 45 gritted her teeth as the terrifying sound of impact engulfed her.

Because Number 86 had always been less skilled than herself, her movements were getting slower, and her dagger technique was becoming dull. She could expect that her dagger was going to take Number 86’s life if it continued.

“Argh!”

Number 45 turned her head to look at the fourth trainer. It was causing her bone-shattering pain, but she endured it.

‘P-please stop it!’

Her eyes were pleading for him to stop the cruel fight.

“This fight will continue until one of you dies.”

The trainer’s mouth rolled into a thin smile.

“You should rejoice. The death of your most precious person is going to turn you into a real shadow.”

Even though he’d always been a cold-hearted trainer, he sounded like he was having fun.

“Kill.”

Her body was moving slower, but it accelerated again upon hearing his order.

‘Please! It doesn’t matter who, please stop me!’

Regardless of her silent scream of despair, her hand accelerated even further to end her friend’s life.

Clang!

Number 86’s dagger couldn’t withstand her strength and was knocked into the air.

‘Ah…’

Contrary to her feelings, Number 45’s hand was about to stab the dagger into Number 86’s neck.

“Yes. That’s how it should be.”

A cold light sparkled in the trainer’s eyes.

“This makes you one of the shadows no—Kuah!”

She came back to her senses upon hearing his scream. The dagger had stopped its advance and had only scratched Number 86’s skin.

“Wh-what…?”

“Shut up and die.”

A quiet voice could be heard, and blood gushed from the fourth trainer’s heart.

“Ugh…”

A tall man appeared from behind the fourth trainer’s collapsing body. He felt similar to themselves for some reason, but he also felt completely different at the same time.

“It’s okay now.”

He smiled while taking the bloody dagger from her hand with sorrowful eyes.

“I’ll take your names back for you.”