Chapter 23: So this is the Contact Location

“Certainly, Taehoo, Juhyeok, and Muncheol are on a different level than the other kids.”

Among them, Taehoo was, as expected, outstanding.

He had always been the first to complete every training, and not just first, but with the best results. This time was no different.

Even when the team was suddenly split into two, he calmly led the others.

Because of that, his team reached the center at the same time as Juhyeok’s team, which avoided the pitfall of splitting up.

He liked Taehoo, so he had given him a bit of a penalty, but Taehoo had performed even better than expected.

“He’s the second one who’s truly worthy of receiving the power of the Holy Relic.”

Jin Tae watched the battle unfolding on the monitor with satisfied eyes.

The kids’ fight was total chaos.

They poured everything they’d trained into clashing with the opposing team.

As they advanced, taking down the “dogs,” the kids’ excitement had already reached its peak.

They weren’t at a level where they could even think about controlling their strength.

‘I need to end this quickly.’

The same thought crossed both Taehoo and Juhyeok’s minds.

The two of them, moving at a pace incomparable to the other kids, headed straight for the button in the center.

Clang!

Their training daggers met with perfect accuracy.

A direct showdown between the two leaders.

Juhyeok took his stance, keeping a close eye on Taehoo’s every move.

Taehoo did the same.

“You never show up in the Arena, so I wanted to face you at least once.”

Juhyeok spoke his mind without hesitation.

This wasn’t as an Assassin, but as a fellow trainee.

Taehoo heard that and let out a short laugh.

“Think carefully about what kind of training we’re receiving.”

It was an offhand remark.

But—

“…!”

Juhyeok understood instantly.

The two of them were currently being trained as spies. The other kids might not know, but Taehoo, Juhyeok, and Muncheol knew exactly what was going on.

And the fight a spy must avoid above all else was, obviously—

‘A frontal confrontation.’

The moment Juhyeok turned his head, Muncheol was already swinging his sharpened hand.

Thud!

Juhyeok collapsed, and as expected, victory on the first day went to Taehoo.

Another half year passed.

Except for the first day, whenever Taehoo’s team won one day, Juhyeok’s team would win the next.

This was only possible because Taehoo and Muncheol adjusted their strength after the first day.

They had to share food until the time was right.

On the day marking the seventh month, Taehoo began to break that balance.

He started winning two times for every loss, and soon it became three, then four consecutive victories.

Juhyeok wasn’t lacking in ability, so he still protected his team thoroughly.

Even after starving for four days, he managed to keep casualties at zero.

That proved Juhyeok’s capability, but on the other hand—

‘He’s risking his life to protect the others.’

It was something an Assassin should never do.

During a mission, the top priority for an Assassin was always to stay alive and keep supplying information.

That’s why Taehoo was certain of Juhyeok’s wavering.

After five victories, when Juhyeok’s team reached their limit—

“From now on, the winning team will share food with the losing team.”

Taehoo reached out his hand to Juhyeok.

“It’s insurance in case I lose, too. Don’t think of it as too much of a debt.”

He added a word to preserve Juhyeok’s pride.

Just a month ago, the win rate had been 5:5, so it was a reasonable proposal.

Besides, Juhyeok couldn’t bear to watch his teammates starve any longer.

It had always been that way.

His determination to protect the kids he was entrusted with burned separately from his identity as the Stray Dog of Dantalion.

“I won’t forget this debt.”

Juhyeok and Taehoo shook hands.

Of course, after that, Juhyeok’s team never won again.

But since they shared the food they received, none of the kids complained.

Except for Maze Training, all the kids were undergoing the same training.

They had become close enough to share food with each other.

As time went on, Taehoo became the center of the group, and Juhyeok grew into a Deputy Squad Leader.

Jin Tae watched this with satisfaction.

Since he had chosen Taehoo, he wanted him to at least be able to command the other kids.

“Please try not to touch the kids too much until I’ve secured my position.”

Taehoo made this request to Jin Tae as a way to buy time.

Jin Tae readily agreed, saying he wouldn’t interfere with whatever Taehoo managed on his own.

And so, time passed relentlessly.

Time flowed again. In that period, Taehoo gained Jin Tae’s trust and secured a certain degree of freedom in his actions.

He also succeeded in becoming a clear focal point among the kids.

Only a little over a year had passed, yet there were already those who, recalling Taehoo’s actions right before the so-called “bathroom incident,” expressed personal gratitude to him.

[Still, they’re all growing up pretty well.]

Ba’al, too, seemed to have grown fond of these kids, as if he were looking after them himself, adding such comments.

And above all—

‘Now, without a doubt, his family is us. He feels that way, too.’

Late at night, with everyone asleep, Taehoo watched Juhyeok as he moved after staring at them for a long while, and thought to himself.

Even as he stepped outside, he glanced several times with warm eyes at the sleeping children, further confirming Juhyeok’s feelings.

A year was more than enough time to form real bonds.

‘It feels like the time has come…’

Taehoo sensed it was time to end his tightrope walk with the Dantalion House.

It had already been a year. There was no telling when they might make a move.

‘I need to have a card in my hand to control the schedule before they act.’

Only then could he finish all his plans.

Taehoo soon stood up.

Muncheol also got up to follow, but Taehoo stopped him.

“Make sure you don’t wake the others.”

With a brief request, Muncheol nodded quietly.

Taehoo slipped outside and began to tail Juhyeok.

The place where the kids were staying was a building set in the mountains, far from the city.

‘Jin Tae goes out on missions at this hour to raise funds. He knows that.’

In other words, Juhyeok had figured out when it was least dangerous.

Taehoo hadn’t intentionally leaked any information, so this was proof of Juhyeok’s abilities once again.

‘He said his parents sold him for a pittance.’

It could have been a made-up story, but in his previous life, Taehoo had seen the emotion on Juhyeok’s face as he spoke about it.

‘Everything he said was true, except that he was sold to the Dantalion House instead of the black market.’

Taehoo combined the information he’d heard in his past life and came to that conclusion.

How long had he been following Juhyeok, lost in thought? Soon, Juhyeok stopped at a certain spot.

It was a place thick with trees, where you wouldn’t even think people could walk unless you looked closely.

‘So this is the Contact Location.’

Taehoo climbed up a branch and concealed his presence, observing the situation.

His stealth was nearly perfect, a combination of the Dog of the Wilds’ experience and his current abilities.

That’s why even the Information Agent from the Dantalion House failed to sense anything as he appeared before Juhyeok.

“Arrive at the exact appointed time, without a second’s delay. You’ve been getting later every time, haven’t you, G||?”

The Information Agent snapped at Juhyeok the moment he saw him.

“Sorry. Someone kept tossing and turning in their sleep.”

Even with just those few words, Taehoo could sense Juhyeok’s inner conflict.

‘If he’d been even a little slower, it could have been dangerous.’

If Taehoo had been late, Juhyeok would have vanished from the world without a sound one day.

The Dantalion House was utterly thorough in matters like this.

That’s how they’d gained such notoriety as a house that served evil in his previous life.

With an air of finality, the Information Agent took the paper Juhyeok handed over and disappeared.

Juhyeok let out a deep sigh and headed back toward the building where the kids were.

When he arrived at the entrance, he couldn’t help but be startled.

Taehoo was standing there, blocking his path with a bright smile.

“It’s late at night. Where have you been?”

Ba’al confirmed that the Information Agent was far enough away.

Now was the time to settle things with Juhyeok.

“You…”

Juhyeok’s surprise was obvious as he looked at Taehoo.

His voice trembled, but his eyes were darting about faster than anyone else’s.

‘As I thought, he’s a natural in this field, too.’

No wonder the demanding Dantalion House had entrusted even this young child with a solo mission.

Not knowing that this was a fatal mistake.

‘He’ll probably think he can beat me. He’ll try to subdue and persuade me.’

That’s why Taehoo had always held back a little during training, seeming a bit more competent than the other kids, but not as good as Juhyeok.

Just enough for Juhyeok to believe he could win if he went all out.

As Taehoo expected, Juhyeok drew the dagger from his waist.

Assassins, like swordsmen, had to be able to wield their weapons as if they were part of their own bodies, so each had been given a dagger.

A clear intent to fight. Taehoo also drew his dagger.

‘If Jin Tae comes back, it’ll be at most ten minutes. I need to finish this in five.’

Taehoo checked the moon overhead and made his decision.

The preliminary skirmish ended right then.

Anxious, Juhyeok was the first to break the silence and move.

‘I want to use Aura to subdue him in an instant, but if I break the dagger, Jin Tae will get suspicious.’

Taehoo decided as he watched Juhyeok charge.

At the same time—

Clang!

He had no choice but to receive Juhyeok’s attack blade to blade, without using Aura.

The sound of metal clashing echoed through the forest path.

Taehoo deflected Juhyeok’s strike and instantly leaned forward.

Juhyeok’s eyes widened at a strength and speed he’d never experienced before.

But the fight was already over the moment he lost his composure.

Clang!

With one more swing, Taehoo completely broke Juhyeok’s balance.

Taehoo immediately drove a Straight punch into Juhyeok’s side.

He held back his strength, but the blow was enough to make Juhyeok’s mind go blank for a moment.

At Taehoo’s current level, it didn’t even take five minutes to subdue Juhyeok.

But even though he finished it faster than he’d expected—

[Hide him quickly!]

At Ba’al’s urgent voice, Taehoo spun around and struck Juhyeok on the temple.

Juhyeok lost consciousness instantly.

Not stopping there, Taehoo grabbed him and tossed him into the bushes.

At the same time—

Taehoo’s senses picked up something else definitely approaching.

Tap!

There was a soft landing sound atop the bushes.

And then,

“What are you doing here?”

Jin Tae’s voice pierced Taehoo’s ear.