“It’s true. You awakened magical power.”
Looking at the surgical scar on my right arm, a glint appeared in Count Elcidore’s eyes.
“Is this child really eight years old?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Otto bowed respectfully to the count’s question and handed over the docunts. They were records of my magic circuit’s output and surgical progress after I received the awakening surgery.
“I’ve perford countless surgeries over many years, but I’ve never seen a child like this. It hasn’t even been two weeks since the awakening surgery, yet his magical power output surpasses that of an average adult magician……”
“No, that’s not what I was asking about.”
The count, who had stopped Otto’s explanation, lowered himself to look at . A piercing gaze that seed to pierce through my head. Eventually, a faint smile spread across the count’s face. He had sensed sothing from .
“You’ve killed soone before, haven’t you?”
“……!”
It felt like my heart had dropped to my stomach.
‘How did he know? Was I being watched?’
No, that wasn’t it. Maybe the Valks gang would, but a nobleman of such high standing would have no reason to monitor a back alley kid like .
As I silently stared at him for a while, the smile on the count’s face grew deeper.
“You neither hastily answer nor avoid my gaze. I like you more and more.”
Is that a complint? No, it’s not.
I could tell instinctively. That wasn’t the gaze of soone evaluating another person, but rather the look of soone appraising a quality hunting dog or a fine horse. The count wasn’t thinking of
as a person.
“Give
the papers. Originally, I was planning to just see his face and make a decision later… But I’ve changed my mind.”
At the count’s words, Otto handed over the docunts he was holding. What he handed over was a guardianship certificate. The count quickly scanned the docunt before signing it with elegant handwriting.
“Doctor, what exactly is this……”
While he was focused on the docunts, I pressed Otto for answers.
Why was Lupeon here? And why did he know about ? When I looked at Otto’s face, he began explaining with a slight sigh.
“Our hospital is a national hospital. Anyone who awakens magical power here must have their personal information reported to the Imperial Magic Departnt.”
“Then, my information too?”
“Of course it was reported to the Imperial Magic Departnt. And as you can see, the count contacted us.”
Saying that, Otto showed
a note bearing the seal of the Imperial Army’s Magic Corps.
‘In the setting, the Elcidore count family has a grip on the Magic Corps’ personnel rights.’
It made sense.
The Magic Departnt, upon receiving the docunts, first reported this to their head, the count, and the count took an interest in .
And it would be impossible for a re doctor living in the slums to ignore a noble’s orders.
“I’m sorry things turned out this way. But since it’s co to this… Think of it as a good opportunity.”
Otto tried to maintain a calm expression as he spoke to .
“You have the guts and talent to undergo magical power surgery at such a young age. It would be a waste for you to ss around with gangs in these back alleys.”
I looked at Otto’s face. When our eyes t, Otto avoided my gaze with a troubled expression.
“Besides, Count Elcidore is a highly respected person. He provides a lot of support for poverty relief, and personally runs an orphanage. There probably won’t be… any discrimination just because you’re from the back alleys.”
That’s a lie.
While it was true that the Elcidore count family was involved in poverty relief projects, it was rely an activity for maintaining reputation among the nobles.
A noble treating commoners without discrimination? A doctor who treats patients in the back alleys wouldn’t believe such sugar-coated words.
He just wanted to reassure .
“Thank you for introducing the child. As promised, the Elcidore count family will clear the debts owed to this hospital.”
“Thank… you.”
“Of course, that’s not all. Since you’ve given
a precious child, I’ll personally show my gratitude as well. You won’t be disappointed.”
Gratitude.
Hearing those words, I recalled the state of Otto’s hospital.
Walls with cracks everywhere and old dical equipnt. dical staff leaving because they couldn’t endure the low wages, and the endless stream of patients.
How many people would refuse if the situation could be improved by giving up a child they’d known for less than a week?
‘So I have no choice.’
The count had already made up his mind to take , and the deal with Otto was done. Even if I, an eight-year-old child, struggled and refused to go, it would only make things worse.
If you can’t choose the best option, you should choose the lesser evil.
Having finished my thoughts, I bowed to the count.
“Though I am humble, I will serve you faithfully. I look forward to your guidance, Count.”
“……Oh!”
Seeing
prostrated on the floor, the count let out an exclamation of surprise. And shortly after. When the count gestured, a man who appeared to be an attendant ca in to guide .
“I’m sorry Eugene. But I……”
Just as I was about to leave the hospital, Otto tried to say sothing to
as I was leaving.
“Doctor!”
However, I cut off his voice and said with a smiling expression.
“Put the hospital bill on my tab.”
“……What?”
To him, I must have been a connection that could be ignored. After all, I was just another slly beggar, one he could have ignored and dismissed.
But he listened to my request and showed his own kind of goodwill. That alone was enough.
At least he was better than the Revolutionary Army who betrayed
at the end.
“Soday, I’ll co back and pay it.”
With those words as my last, I left the hospital.
Magical power, determination, and a bit of connection.
I guess I’ve gotten everything I could from this place.
***
Beeeeeep—
Along with the horn sound, the heavy vehicle rushed along the rails.
Inside the armored train heading to the count’s territory.
Although the path to the territory was in a clean zone far from monster territories, Lupeon still used armored trains even in places like this.
It was to prevent possible attacks or assassination threats.
“Hic, hiccup……”
“It’s okay. We’ll definitely be able to return……”
I was in the cargo car located in the middle of the armored train. It was more like a prison than a train compartnt. Inside, other children were huddled up besides .
‘These children……’
The other children might not be able to feel it, but to
who had completed the awakening surgery, it was clearly visible.
‘I can feel faint magical power. They’re children born with it naturally.’
Co to think of it, Count Elcidore had also taken
after hearing that I had awakened magical power.
Recalling that fact, I could figure out why Elcidore had sought
out.
‘Knifehead. I didn’t expect them to recruit like this.’
Knifehead.
An assassination group created by gathering children with magical power aptitude from all around the country, training them, and implanting specially modified magic circuits.
A suicide squad that willingly gives up their lives at the family head’s word and doesn’t hesitate to self-destruct if necessary.
In the ga, they were mob enemies that would pop up just when you thought you could rest after getting through tough patterns, to the point where parties would specifically assign mbers to deal with them.
But now I have to beco one of those Knifeheads?
“Sh*tty reincarnation difficulty for real.”
At the tender age of eight, I already want a cigarette. If I had known this would happen, I should have lifted so from Hans’ corpse.
It’s clear that the monkey’s paw has blessed .
Think about it.
I wished ‘I want to get away from the Valks gang!’ and it said ‘Alright’ and then threw
into the Elcidore count family?
Life is f*cked. The more I think about it, the more annoying it gets. Why is my life difficulty set to hell?
Is it bugged?
‘Whew. Calm down, calm down.’
Even the energy to lant is precious. After regaining my composure, I imdiately started thinking.
‘Think positively. Co to think of it, this situation isn’t entirely bad.’
I’ve caught the attention of soone who ranks in the TOP 10 for broken personalities in the ga.
Sold to a villain to be worked like a dog and destined to be used as a suicide assassination drone.
It seed like a situation that couldn’t get any worse, but nevertheless, it wasn’t without its advantages.
First: Even as a tool, I’ve got a foot in the door of a noble family.
In terms of the story’s tiline, this is 7 years before the main story begins.
Originally, I would have been begging for food in the back alleys at this point.
Rather than wasting ti as a beggar, it’s better to leave the back alleys and enter a noble family as quickly as possible.
Moreover, most of the important characters in the story are nobles.
Though the chances are low, if I play my cards right, I might be able to make contact with the ga’s key figures.
Second: The very fact that I’m being raised as a Knifehead.
I awakened magical power at a young age, and my magical power quantity was outstanding.
However, that was just being ahead of my peers, a difference that could be easily caught up to if training randomly in the back alleys.
But the Elcidore count family is among the top magical houses that rule the empire.
While I probably can’t dream of the high-grade magic circuits used by nobles, I should be able to learn enough of the fundantal magical power operation techniques and ntal thods.
‘Thinking about the magic circuit I’ll create in the future… This might actually be better.’
Third: Quality of life.
Actually, this part is important enough to throw away the previous two points.
A clean bed and clothes!
Regular baths!
Normal als!
All of these were luxuries I couldn’t even dream of until now.
‘As Otto said, this is still several tis better than living as a beggar in the back alleys.’
Honestly, even without the first two points, I would have begged to be taken into the count’s family just for this alone.
Turn over while lying down and so damn mouse squeaks “honey, do I look different today?”
Try to eat bread and maggots pop out saying “how do I look today?”
These filthy clothes that even I can’t distinguish from rags!
Living in that beggar-like environnt for 7 years?
Being sold as a suicide drone to a noble family is a hundred, no, a thousand tis better.
What? I might die during training?
A 21st-century modern person would commit suicide within a week if thrown into that cesspool. I guarantee it!
Clunk-
“Ugh?!”
While such internal conflicts continued for a while, the armored train carrying
jolted once.
Looking at the commotion outside, it seed we had reached our destination.
Screech-!
The armored train stopped at a freight station located inside the fortress.
As the door opened with the chanical sound of hydraulics, a foggy, musty air greeted
and the children.
“Everyone out!”
The attendant who had guided
removed his black robe and revealed his face.
It was a face that exuded intimidation, with angular features and black hair swept back.
‘Ben Herkes…!’
The final nad monster of Chapter 7’s stage, the Elcidore mansion dungeon.
Count Elcidore’s shadow and dagger in his breast.
The hidden figure who elevated Elcidore from a low-ranking magic family in the frontier to the status of a count family.
Rumble–
Behind him appeared a group of people.
Black tanned leather armor and earth-colored cloaks.
Where there should have been a family seal on their chests, there was instead a dagger.
Faces hidden by hoods and gas masks.
Seeing that, my breath caught in my throat.
It was exactly the sa as what I had seen in the ga.
‘Knifehead.’
Though hidden behind gas masks, I could be certain.
The climax of Chapter 7, the Belkers Revolutionary Army uprising.
Facing that, they released poison gas throughout the Belkers count’s territory, killing all 100,000 residents… The demons of Belkers.
Those demons I had faced in the ga were now facing
and the children.
Swoosh-
As Ben, standing in the center, raised his hand, the lined-up mbers all took their positions at once.
What is it? Weapons? Or gas shells?
It might be part of training to deal with unexpected situations.
Just as several children tried to hurriedly get up with similar thoughts.
Clap clap clap clap-!
Along with perfectly rhythmic applause without a single error, the masked mbers called out to
and the children.
“Knifehead 41st Generation, Terion Lucas!”
“Welco to hell-!”
As Ben called out the na, the mbers gave their greeting. It was an incredibly ominous greeting.
“Knifehead 41st Generation, Juliana El!”
“Welco to hell-!”
“Knifehead 41st Generation, Kenig Sebas!”
“Welco to hell-!”
“Knifehead 41st Generation, Eugene Lorentz!”
“Welco to hell-!”
and the 100 children in the train.
Each ti a na was called, the child whose na was called flinched.
Waaaa—!
The mbers who finished calling nas erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.
Though they were shouting with enthusiasm, not one person made a different sound.
Though it was passionate applause, not one person missed the rhythm.
Sowhere between passion and restraint, cheers and screams.
Whatever it was, receiving such a fervent welco that was sohow hot, I thought.
“F*ck.”
When things go wrong, they really go wrong.
Author's Thoughts
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