Scene: Departure Morning
The early morning sun shone brighter than usual, painting the mansion grounds in warm gold.
At the front gate, a majestic royal carriage waited its crest glowing surrounded by thousands of kingdom citizens who had come to witness the departure.
---
The King & Kira
The King stepped forward and gently grabbed Kira's hand, his eyes filled with both pride and worry.
"I have sent ten S-Rank guardians to protect you three," the King said softly.
"Be careful during the journey."
Kira smiled confidently.
"No problem, Dad. I'll be safe… and I'll protect my little brother and Sung."
The King exhaled with relief.
"I knew it."
Dong and Sung stood behind them, watching the scene quietly.
---
Dong & Sung's Whisper
Sung leaned slightly toward Dong.
"Hey… what do you think they are thinking about us?"
Dong looked confused.
"What?"
Sung nodded toward the distance.
Alorine, the First Prince, and Mira stood far away, silently observing them with cold expressions.
"What they think about us," Sung whispered again. "Any guess?"
Dong looked away calmly.
"Leave it. Their opinions, their rumors… all of that is just a barrier. I don't care what people say about me."
Sung raised a brow.
"Still… what do you think?"
Dong shrugged.
"I don't know."
---
The King Approaches Them
Suddenly, the King walked up to Dong and Sung.
He placed a hand on Sung's shoulder.
"Sung… I hope you become smarter and stronger after graduating from Valdyne."
Then he looked at Dong.
"And Dong… I hope you pass the admission test."
Dong blinked.
"Huh? You still think I'm weak?"
The King smiled warmly.
"As a father… it is in my nature to worry about my son."
Dong looked away, a hint of frustration flashing in his eyes.
(In his past life… no one cared about him. This feeling was still unfamiliar.)
"Fine," Dong muttered. "We're leaving."
Kira nodded.
"Yeah."
---
The Farewell
The three climbed into the royal carriage.
The moment the carriage door closed
Thousands of citizens erupted into cheers.
"Kiraaa!!"
"Our hero!!"
"Even if Dong defeated a dragon, you're still our hero, Kira!!"
Kira laughed softly and waved through the window.
Dong rolled his eyes but didn't say anything.
Sung smirked.
With a command from the guards, the royal carriage began to move forward
Their journey to Valdyne Supreme Academy had officially begun.
The road stretched endlessly beneath the moonlit sky, the royal carriage rocking gently as it rolled through the quiet forest path.
Dong rested his head against his hand, his elbow propped on the window. Cool night wind brushed over his face as he stared outside, lost in thought.
Inside, Sung shifted restlessly.
He glanced at Kira.
"What do you think, Kira?" Sung asked suddenly.
"What is my power supposed to be? Your power is swordsmanship… Master Dong is a magician… but me?"
Kira leaned back, arms crossed, thinking for a moment.
"It's difficult," he admitted.
"Most people naturally awaken their affinity between ages ten and fifteen. But you… you're almost twenty, Sung. And you still haven't awakened."
Sung sighed deeply.
"Yeah… Master gave me magic books… even swordsmanship scrolls. But magic doesn't flow in me at all. And swords… I can't handle them."
The carriage grew quiet.
Then Dong's voice cut through the silence, calm but firm.
"Sung, I think you're special."
Sung blinked. "Special?"
Dong kept staring out the window.
"You don't need to follow what everyone else does. You should awaken something new… something that belongs only to you."
Sung chuckled weakly.
"I don't think so…"
Dong finally turned his head, eyes glowing faintly.
"It's your choice."
Sung smiled in defeat.
"Hehe… okay, okay."
---
Night Camp
Later that night, they stopped near a wide clearing.
The knights built a fire, and under the soft moonlight they hunted a deer.
The smell of cooked meat filled the cool air.
Kira sat near the flames, watching the knights eat.
"You should eat more," he said with a gentle smile.
"You all are our shield."
One of the knights the 5th Knight straightened immediately.
"Yes, young master!"
His voice was full of loyalty and pride.
The fire crackled. The forest swayed. And the journey toward Valdyne continued through the night.
The Encounter Zorak & Valra
The night was quiet.
Too quiet.
Dong rested his head against the window frame, eyes half-closed, when
CRACK!
A sharp noise echoed through the trees.
Instantly, all ten S-rank knights raised their weapons.
Kira stepped forward.
"Who's there?"
From the shadows, a young man stumbled out
around 14 to 16, massive, towering, and bleeding heavily.
In his arms, he carried a girl delicate, unconscious, and injured.
The man fell to his knees.
"P-please… help us!"
He struggled to breathe.
"We are the son and daughter of the Great Mountain Barbarian King! Please save my sister!"
Sung's face tightened.
"The Great Mountain Barbarian Kingdom is ridiculously powerful… we should help."
Dong smirked faintly.
"Yeah. This could turn into profit later."
Kira nodded without hesitation.
"Knights! Heal them."
The knights moved instantly, surrounding the pair.
Kira approached the boy.
"What's your name?"
The boy clenched his jaw.
"M-my name… is Zorak."
He looked behind him at the girl, eyes full of fear.
"And my sister… her name is Valra."
---
Descriptions
As the knights treated his wounds, Kira examined Zorak properly.
Zorak
Height: 7 to 8 feet, still growing
Long wild red hair
Massive, bulked muscles
Barbarian-style clothing
Dark red eyes
A battle scar across his forehead
Carries a huge sword and an even bigger hammer
He looked like a walking mountain.
Kira turned to Valra and slowly picked her up from Zorak's arms.
The moment his eyes met her face
thump
Kira froze.
His heartbeat suddenly increased.
His hand moved to his chest.
"What… what is this feeling?"
His cheeks turned bright red.
He stared at her again.
Valra
Blonde hair
Dark red eyes
Height: 5'9
Red royal assassin dress
A presence that didn't match a barbarian
she looked like a goddess born in the wrong kingdom.
Zorak's voice trembled desperately.
"My sister… she is a 9th Assassin Talent… a prodigy born once every 300 years.
She is my pride… my heart… please save her!"
Dong clicked his tongue.
"Calm down, you gorilla. Shouting like that might break her ears."
Sung burst into laughter.
Zorak instantly stopped shouting, embarrassed.
Kira still held Valra, staring at her silently.
(Kira's thoughts)
How… how can someone this beautiful be born in a barbarian kingdom…?
The knights continued healing Zorak and Valra as the carriage lamps flickered softly around them.
After healing, Valra was still unconscious, resting quietly.
Sung: "So… to the point.
You are the son of the Great Mountain Barbarian Kingdom's King.
From my information, you're an incredible talent someone even we would avoid fighting.
Now tell us… who attacked you? Because that enemy might come for us too."
Zorak: "I… I don't know his name. But he was around my height skinny…
He attacked us with two katanas, and left us in this condition."
Sung's eyes widened.
Sung: "Was his hair light blue?"
Dong: "And was his whole body covered in bandages?"
Zorak froze.
Zorak: "Y-Yes… how do you know?"
Kira: "Ohh hell nah… it might be him."
Sung: "The perfect assassin… the one who hasn't missed a target in a hundred years."
Dong: "People say he's immortal… signed a deal with the Devil."
Kira: "His goal is to reshape the entire world."
Sung: "He never takes money.
If he thinks a target can affect the world… he kills. Instantly."
Zorak's entire back shivered.
Zorak: "S-So he was that monster…"
Suddenly—
Valra's eyes slowly opened.
She rubbed her eyes weakly and whispered,
Valra: "Zorak… are we safe now?"
Still half-asleep, she accidentally grabbed Kira's hand.
Kira's heart skipped a beat. His face slowly turned red.
Zorak: "Yeah, we're safe.
And they are the ones who saved us."
Valra looked at the group, her eyes soft and grateful.
Valra: "Thank you… thank you for saving us."
She paused.
Valra: "But… may I know who all of you are?"
Zorak nodded.
Zorak: "Right… I didn't even ask."
Sung stepped forward with elegance.
Sung:
"We are from the Golden Sword Continent.
This is the 3rd Prince, Kira.
The one beside him is the 4th Prince, Dong.
And I am the head butler Sung."
Zorak blinked.
Zorak: "Oh… so Sung, where are you all going?"
Dong: "We're heading to the Valdyne Supreme Academy for admission."
Valra's eyes sparkled.
Valra: "That's great! Can we come with you?"
Dong looked at Kira.
Dong: "What do you think, Kira?"
Kira smiled gently.
Kira: "Yeah… they can."
Dong: "Alright, you both can come.
But Zorak
You can't ride the carriage with us.
You're too big… you'll look like a gorilla sitting inside."
Zorak clenched his teeth, frustrated but trying not to laugh.
Zorak: "Don't call me gorilla…"