Her fingertips trembled.

The past flashed before her eyes like a mirage, like sand flowing through her fingertips.

"—Are you loyal to the Grand Duke?"

When Vladimir picked her up, he also asked him about it when he was still "Soronik".

His parents were both murderers. His father is an elite stalker capable of assassinating official wizards, and his mother is a follower of Black Widow who can concoct potent poisons, both with innocent blood on their hands.

It's not a pity for them to die—intellectually, Thoronik knows that, too.

But seeing his mother killed by the enemy, his father never returned. He was again expelled from the village by the villagers...... In the roaring blizzard, he was driven out of the small barrier by holding the short sword used by his father.

Young Solnik's heart was filled with trepidation and unease.

He crossed the snow on foot and reached the big city.

He wants to join the Winter Hand, but is unable to accept it because of his parents' guilt; He was attacked by a frost beast raised by a mind thief, and nearly died suddenly in the snow; With his sword in hand, he wanted to join the caravan as a guard, asking only for a stable job and a full meal, but he was also rejected because of his young age and poor swordsmanship.

He begged and worked in various places, but the money was cheated, he angrily beat the thief, and took the stolen to learn swordsmanship, but was rejected by the swordsmanship dojo.

"I've heard about something going on in your hometown, Thoronik. I'm not going to teach you swordsmanship, you're a natural murderer. When you draw your sword, you instinctively attack someone else's vital point.

"You haven't killed anyone yet, and you still have time to turn back - you're in good health, exercise your body, do some hard work, and you'll never starve. Everywhere you have to work hard. Or you can read and read, and you can also become a big person.

"If you learn swordsmanship...... No, if you learn any combat technique, you can use it to kill. And as long as you kill the first person, you can't stop. I'm teaching guard swordsmanship here, not killer swordsmanship. ”

The old teacher's comments on Solonic soon spread throughout the city.

This thin boy from out of town, always holding a sword and acting as unruly as a lone wolf, is still very well-known in this small town.

But after this word spread, there was no one to hire him to work.

- If you stay here, you're going to die.

Thoronik's mind was very clear.

However, he also knows...... The reviews of the old teachers are not precise enough.

Because he is not a rebellious person, he is still hiding his edge. On the contrary, the edge is too strong, and it can't be hidden at all when you block your eyes with your hands.

He killed someone — it was his birthday when he was nine years old.

It is true that Thoronik did not study swordsmanship.

But it is not necessary to use the sword to kill.

When his father teased him, he compared the weakness of the human body to him. And Thoronik giggled, and did subconsciously take it to heart.

There is no need for fierce duels with sword and blade fighting.

Just pour a puddle of slippery grease on the dark alleyway. People slip and fall when they walk by.

He would hide nearby, holding heavy stones. After the man fell, he threw himself on his temple, the back of his head, and his neck, and then used the dagger at the man's waist to pierce his heart and cut his throat.

- So Thoronik planned.

But he soon found out...... The human body is so fragile.

His plan didn't work at all.

His mind went blank.

Just keep smashing the back of the head with all my might...... By the time he came to his senses, the man was dead.

It's so easy to kill.

Thoronik thought to himself.

He fumbled the body's purse and tried to escape the town...... But he was robbed by a much bigger thug.

Neither a stone nor a sword is better than a gun. He obediently handed over the stolen wallet, only a silver coin left by his subconscious was hidden in his mouth, and even the sword was snatched.

If it weren't for him kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy in time, the other party saved a buckshot...... Maybe there will be no future.

He left town empty-handed, with silver in his mouth, alone under the watchful eyes of the thugs.

- This time, he wasn't as lucky as before.

Or the punishment for his killing, this time the blizzard was particularly harsh.

And when he was almost unconscious, he vaguely saw a pair of boots, and a walking stick.

The man took his staff and showed no mercy or dignity...... He used a cold cane to open his feeble body, ripped open his clothes, and pressed against his left chest.

"Homeless puppy, have you ever killed someone?"

A low, emotionless voice sounded: "The desire is strong......

"So, I ask you—if you had one more chance, what would you want to be?"

…… This man is a fool, isn't he?

At that time, such a thought came to the mind of the dying Thoronik.

He didn't have the strength to respond.

- That's how it should have been.

But a warm current flowed through the staff into his heart.

His chest became unusually cold, but his body gained strength.

He came back to life.

Realizing the miracle, Thoronik got up, knelt in the snow in disbelief, and looked up at the middle-aged man in his heavy cloak.

At that moment, he was as great as a god.

"If you had another chance, what would you want to be?"

The middle-aged man's deep voice sounded again: "Or ...... Do you want power?"

“…… Ah, I think! Master Wizard! ”

He blurted out, "I want power!" Please give me the power to kill! ”

In Thoronik's mind at the time, only wizards had this magical power.

But the moment he said it...... I already regret it.

However, at that time, his mind was hazy, and he could only tell the truth instinctively.

"Oh?"

Hearing Thoronik's words, the middle-aged man chuckled: "Is it the power to kill?"

"So...... How far can you go for this power? ”

"Sir, you saved my life."

Little Solonik said without hesitation: "If it's for the sake of the master, I can kill people...... If you have any enemies, I'll kill them for you! I will never reveal anything about you, and if I fail, I will take poison - as long as it is for the sake of the master, I can not even take my life! ”

These are the words he learned from his father.

"[As long as it's for the master, I don't even want my life]."

The middle-aged man repeated, laughing out loud for the second time: "Then remember this sentence, puppy." ”

"Yes!"

"So—are you loyal to the Grand Duke?"

Grand duke......

Truth be told, Solonic was very vague about the concept.

He didn't even know how many ranks the nobles had, and he had never even seen the mansions of the noble lords. He only heard about it occasionally and knew that Grand Duke Ivan was a good man...... That's all.

- But what does that have to do with him?

He is the child of a murderer, and he is also a petty murderer. He was not a citizen protected by the Grand Duke of Winter, and perhaps he should have been sent to the gallows.

"Loyal or disloyal...... You have the final say, sir. ”

Without thinking, Thoronik replied, "I listen to you." ”

"Very good answer.

"So, take my cane and stand up. Homeless puppy-"

The middle-aged man replied calmly in a voice without the slightest emotion: "From now on, you are a human being." ”

- From now on, I am a human being.

The voice rang in Thoronik's ears.

He took a deep breath and grabbed the cane handed by the middle-aged man in submission.

…… Even since then.

After he joined the Hand of Winter, he never cared about Rinwinter's political situation.

He was not trained in torture techniques or counter-torture techniques, nor did he learn the doctrines of military, politics, and interpersonal communication. Even though these courses are taught within the Winter Hand.

What border nobles, what god-blood nobles, what wizard families, what ritual master families...... Thoronik didn't care about that at all.

His teacher Vladimir said that whoever was a traitor and betrayed the Grand Duke, he went and killed that person. His most talented, irreplaceable, is his killing technique.

Anything at his fingertips can kill - with talent and a hundred times more industriousness, his killing skills are becoming more and more sophisticated, even the "Ten Fingers" are not as good as him.

As the old teacher said...... He was a born murderer.

From the moment he killed the first person, he could no longer hide this talent.

He is able to easily kill people who are much bigger and stronger than himself. And it's not just because the other side is underestimating...... Rather, it is because he acts without scruples.

The blood of the Murderer runs through his veins.

- Other than that, he's good for nothing.

Until......

The "wolf professor" gave him a second life.

"I ......"

Celicia's voice trembled.

She was silent for a moment.

Under Zoya's invisible gaze, she lowered her head: "I am naturally loyal. ”

"'Thoronik' is no matter what, he's just a lost dog......"

Professor Wolf's magnetic voice seemed to echo in her ears: "But the venerable and beloved 'Miss Celisia' is not necessarily......

"She's a human being. A free man...... A beauty who can always please people. ”