The place where I met the Dormant Dragon cadets was an abandoned parking lot near the academy's administrative wing. Elize had summoned me there, saying she wanted to show me their hideout. (She’d been using it as a doghouse.)
When I arrived, the maid Lucy and—oddly enough—Kendreik were there as well.
Lucy was cleaning. Kendreik was moving some abandoned tractor, seemingly under Lucy’s orders. I’d heard they didn’t even speak the same language, so that was some progress.
In any case.
“Elize.”
“Yes!”
“From this moment forward, you will form a cadet contract with me. As the head of this assassination squad and your guiding professor, I intend to make you my subordinate assassin.”
“Yes!”
...No, wait. That’s not how this was supposed to go.
Recruiting an assassin into your squad was normally a serious, somber affair.
But Elize looked way too cheerful—like someone listening to an amusement park ride announcement.
“...You wouldn’t understand even if I explained it in detail, so I’ll keep it simple.”
“Okay.”
“A squad member is a tool of the squad leader. Therefore, from now on, you are my tool. Though this is an educational squad, the essence remains unchanged. If I tell you to go, you go. If I tell you to die, you die. Do you understand?”
“Yes!!”
“...Good.”
Elize tilted her head with a bright smile.
“But, you’re not actually going to tell me to die, are you?”
“And why do you think that?”
“Because... you’re on my side, Professor?”
“You never know.”
“Ehh? That’s mean...”
“It is mean. It’s inhuman. That’s what an assassin is. So be cautious before agreeing to the contract. When you graduate and go out into the world, you’ll be signing contracts with people who aren’t on your side... Elize.”
Elize had already bitten the tip of her finger and stamped her blood signature.
“Mmhm~ Huh? Oh, I finished already.”
“......”
“Looking forward to working with you...!”
I looked at her face for a moment, then gave my command.
“Elize Xikos.”
“Yes?”
“As your squad leader, I give you an order.”
“Okay!”
“Die.”
Lucy, standing nearby, flinched in alarm. She looked between me and Elize in disbelief.
Elize blinked and asked, blank-faced:
“...Is this a mission?”
“It is.”
“......”
She didn’t hesitate long. Elize reached to her side and drew an invisible blade. I could tell by the soft shing— sound.
In the blink of an eye, time passed.
I spoke softly.
“Stop.”
Elize responded—
With a faintly distorted expression.
“...Yes.”
Her hand trembled as she lowered the blade.
We stood in silence for a while.
⋮
『World Forgery: Time Forgery [10 seconds / 60 frames]』
⋮
There was something I had to confirm—something that couldn’t be determined with thoughts or words alone.
In front of me, Elize could act playful. Her bright, innocent smile was welcome. I liked her as a person.
But I knew the stubbornness of that retriever-like hound. I knew the game’s backstory tied to her.
If she ever disobeyed an order even after joining my squad, I would have to remove her—now, if needed.
Let me pose an extreme, unpleasant scenario.
If, hypothetically—
If, in some impossible situation—
The only way for everyone to live was for Elize to die...
Then I would order her to die.
And Elize would have to obey.
Of course, such a situation would never occur. I’d never let it happen in the first place. But as the responsible party, I had to always anticipate the absolute worst.
So I tested Elize.
And now I was in a foul mood.
...Why does she listen so damn well?
“Haaah...”
Elize sheathed her sword, trembling as she exhaled. Her head raised, eyes shut.
That was enough for me to be certain. I could include Elize in my toolbox.
After I gave her a brief explanation of what had just happened, she blinked and then asked:
“Hmm, then I have a question too.”
“Ask.”
“What if... what if the Professor had to die so everyone else could live?”
That was a very good question.
I’d pondered something similar myself.
And I had my answer.
“Then I die.”
If I die, the world probably ends.
But thinking it through... I couldn’t find a single reason why a world that required me to sacrifice those close to me just so I could keep living—should be allowed to exist.
A world like that is better off gone. And if it isn’t, then it’s better off without me.
Pretending to be kind requires strength. That was a powerful reason for me to grow stronger.
I wasn’t truly kind. If this were a game, I’d just be the type to like the pure-white route. Not that I was on it.
“Mmm, Professor, you’ve been cursed.”
“I’m not.”
“Nooo, it’s a hypothetical. Are you dumb?”
“......”
From your mouth?
“So, like, if the Professor got cursed and ordered me to kill him... do I still have to obey?”
It was a question based on the assumption that she wouldn’t know she was being manipulated.
Like, say, under something like the Curse of Domination.
My answer didn’t change.
“Kill me.”
Elize fell silent.
“......”
She stared at me, the smile gone, with those big, pink eyes.
I knew this answer wouldn’t sit right with her. This wasn’t a game of tug-of-war to her anymore.
“Mmm...”
She hesitated.
Within our dynamic, where the “Command” system functioned—dogs may die for humans, but they can’t kill them, even at the cost of their own lives. Elize’s family, the Xikos, were granted noble rank by the royal court for that loyalty. Simple, really.
“Mmm... What if I can’t do it...?”
She spoke with a smile.
A smile I’d never heard sounding so... sad.
That’s why.
Because a dog is a person’s friend.
“If you can’t, then fine.”
No need to push further.
“Huh...?”
“I’ll handle my own death.”
“Really? Phew~”
...Phew?
Why do you sound relieved? I just said I’d die.
Even Lucy let out a big sigh, and for some reason, so did ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) Kendreik.
Seriously—why are they even here?
What are they, reaction bots?
Anyway, that was that.
Elize was officially recruited into my assassination squad.
‘Only Gray and Balmung left.’
Gray was busy. I’d get to her later.
“Where’s Balmung?”
“Balmung?”
Elize looked at Lucy. Lucy shook her head. So did Kendreik.
Even when I tried calling, he didn’t pick up.
That’s when Lucy went “Ah!” and said:
“Lately, Balmung’s been wandering around outside a lot.”
“Why?”
“Dunno, really. Maybe he’s in a bad mood? He tends to wander when he’s upset.”
Surprisingly, the next Balmung update came from the Disciplinary Bureau.
Patrol agent KangKang called me in a rush.
—Professor, could you come to the Bureau right now?
Now what?
***
From the moment I decided to guide the Dormant Dragon cadets, I’d made certain arrangements.
One of them was telling KangKang—our pretty-faced Disciplinary Bureau agent—to call me immediately if anything happened related to the cadets, whether it concerned me or not.
According to him, Balmung had attacked members of the Nibelung Family.
But it wasn’t just a punch or two—he’d broken someone’s arm and stabbed them.
I’d seen the dormant violence in Balmung before.
Still, something felt off about KangKang’s story.
If the victim had been an old family enemy, Balmung should’ve finished the job. And if he had, a kill by someone of Balmung’s caliber would’ve been difficult to detect.
If it wasn’t a personal enemy, then attacking so emotionally didn’t make sense either.
Anyway. I reached the Bureau office, and the place was packed.
“Let’s all calm down. We appreciate your cooperation with the Bureau.”
“Are you kidding me? What the hell’s your Bureau gonna do when one of our guys got his face caved in?”
A senior Bureau officer was arguing with some Nibelung Family higher-ups.
“I apologize, but all incidents within academy grounds fall under our jurisdiction.”
“Yeah, that’s your little rule. But the victim ain’t from the academy. What kind of Bureau is that? You got kids, don’t you? Imagine someone stabbing your kid and all they do is scold the other kid’s parents. That okay with you?”
“The injured party is in the Academy medical ward, yes? You accept the benefits, but reject the jurisdiction?”
“Ah—!”
The Nibelung executive clicked his tongue and waved dismissively.
“Whatever. I don’t care. Just bring out that bastard Balmung. Before we stop being polite.”
“That won’t happen. Calm down or leave.”
But the Bureau stood firm.
It made sense—they were part of the White Saber.
Nibelung was Black Abyss.
The two factions always kept a blade in each other’s shadow.
“Tch. You trying to piss me off?”
Meanwhile, I checked on Balmung in his cell.
He was a mess. Hands bandaged, head chained low, collapsed on the floor.
That leash was put there by someone who knew how to handle a Nibelung. A hound’s strength collapses once the neck is controlled.
Heavy restraints bound his hands, and blood leaked from where the clasps met his skin. He must’ve gone berserk.
He hadn’t noticed me yet.
‘Hmm.’
What now...? I needed to find a reason.
If I was going to overturn this, I needed justification.
If I was going to endure it, I needed grounds for that too.
Both sides were powerful players.
The Bureau exec was the Director of the Academy’s Central Administration.
The Nibelung exec was Head of Personnel for the Cartel HQ.
Both were seasoned [Master]-rank fighters.
That’s when the Nibelung exec shouted:
“Hey, you piece of shit Balmung! You deaf?! Get out here!”
The Bureau director stepped forward.
“Sir, if you continue, we may have to detain you as well.”
“Try it, you bastard. You think Nibelung is some playground gang just ’cause you babysit students? Go on, try it!”
Thud. Thud.
The man butted heads with the director.
Thwack—
The director shoved him back.
The Nibelung personnel head staggered backward.
Shiiing—click!
Weapons were drawn on both sides. Real killing tools gleamed blue with murderous light.
Everyone watching scattered.
It was a hair-trigger situation.
“That’s enough, gentlemen. Please—this could become a conflict between the Academy and Nibelung. Let’s calm down.”
Thankfully, the director bowed respectfully, trying to de-escalate.
“...Sir. Don’t forget the Godmother’s instructions.”
Even the Nibelung side backed off—for now.
I agreed. Any interference from me now would only light the fuse on a much bigger explosion.
“...We’ll be back in two hours.”
The thug turned to leave—
And there I was, standing at the doorway.
With my size, I probably looked like a wall.
“You. Professor.”
“......”
“Don’t just stand there. Move.”
His subordinate gestured irritably.
I was slow to react—because I was reading their 【Script】 logs.
Why?
Because I had to decide what posture to take.
I might be passive now—but later?
This was [Hell Difficulty]. A tricky issue.
That’s when a side quest notification came to mind:
┃ Side Quest [Nibelung Family]
After all, I was directly involved in this mess. The “Cain” they were after—was me. Balmung, who fought them, and Gray, whom they wanted—both were effectively mine.
Nibelung is a major sponsor of the Academy. Cutting ties with them isn’t a decision a mere professor can make.
But I’m not “mere.”
I can influence such decisions.
But if I do, I must also bear the consequences.
So I hesitated.
Should I keep dancing around and accommodate Nibelung?
Or should I risk going to war with Black Abyss’s largest syndicate, the world’s 9th-ranked “Black Star Constellation⚉”?
‘...Tough call.’
Another wager, another chip on the betting table.
This world was designed to kill me—and it demanded I make difficult choices.
“Hey. Drag him out.”
“Y-yes... Hey, Professor!”
“......”
“You deaf or something? Move. Or do you not speak human?”
While I was reviewing the 【Script】, I caught something in the Personnel Head’s log—
⋮
【Nibelung Personnel Chief Hitahil: ‘These Hiaka bastards sure got cocky once the floodgates opened. What, they running an orphanage now?’】
【‘I should crush them early so they don’t get too comfortable. Looks like I’ve got the perfect excuse. I’ll report it to the Godmother.’】
⋮
Even when one of the goons slapped me lightly on the cheek, I didn’t care.
Until I read this:
⋮
【‘Let’s use this chance... to kill Balmung.’】
⋮
And then suddenly—my mood changed completely.
I checked every one of their ●nameplates.
“......”
I’ll kill every last one of you.