Marika watched that scene for a long time.

Come to think of it, she had been so preoccupied with running away that she hadn’t even asked what she was curious about.

How could he use the technique she used—at a far more advanced level, no less?

‘That’s...’

It was exactly the image she had dreamed of and longed for.

She never thought it would actually be possible. She had only been trying her best to reach that ideal.

But to think someone she’d never seen before would bring her vision to life.

Marika asked in a trembling voice.

“H-How do you know that technique?”

“I just... wondered how I could use daggers better and studied it?”

Ghislain gave a rough excuse. This technique had been taught to him by Belinda, who had inherited her mother’s legacy.

And its true origin was most likely the very girl standing before him—Marika.

But he couldn’t explain that properly. He still hadn’t confirmed whether this technique was truly created by Marika herself, or if it was something from Crips.

Marika, with an expression of disbelief and emotion, asked again in a voice filled with awe.

“It’s not... magic?”

“I only used mana. It’s a technique that can be operated purely through mana.”

“So it really... was possible. I thought it was just something I imagined on my own. I never thought someone else could have the same idea—and even bring it to life.”

‘Holy...’

Ghislain didn’t show it on his face, but he was shocked inside.

So it really was Marika who created this technique.

Ghislain asked calmly.

“The technique you use... you didn’t learn it from Crips?”

“No. They don’t teach good techniques to low-level assassins like us.”

“Low-level... assassins?”

It wasn’t just Marika—her subordinates were also quite skilled. They were by no means low-level.

Marika nodded and said.

“Yeah. We only learned the most basic movements. Some cheap mana circulation method, that’s it. Anything beyond that? You either have to accomplish something big or prove your loyalty over many years.”

“For that level of training... you moved pretty well.”

At Ghislain’s compliment, Marika responded with slight embarrassment.

“To be honest, I made those techniques. Even the mana circulation method.”

“You made them... yourself?”

“I figured I’d never be taught anything worthwhile, so I started researching bit by bit ever since I was a kid.”

“...”

“I taught them to my subordinates one by one, in secret.”

“You didn’t get caught?”

“It was tough to hide it. I kept adjusting and refining it while secretly training. If I got caught, it would’ve been bad.”

Marika smiled somewhat awkwardly and continued speaking.

“To be honest, I didn’t know how skilled people outside were, so I didn’t even know what level we were at. I was kind of confident, but I guess we were frogs in a well.”

She said it sincerely.

Having never properly fought others, she couldn’t even grasp her own level of skill.

And after facing Ghislain this time, she had concluded that her technique was nothing impressive.

But Ghislain, internally, was stunned.

‘...She really is a genius.’

Julien and Kyle had learned swordsmanship from the spirit-possessed Astion, and refined what they learned through countless battles.

Ghislain had absorbed those completed sword techniques through dreams, and then taught them to the two again. Thanks to that, they had grown far faster than they would have in the original past.

Lionel was the same. He had excellent swordsmanship passed down through his family.

Ghislain trained him using the swordsmanship of the Radlan royal family he had seen in the future, as well as techniques from his dreams.

But Marika was different. She hadn’t refined an already completed technique—she hadn’t learned anything of real quality.

All she had were a few scraps thrown out by her organization. And with only the most basic knowledge, she had created a technique that could shake the entire continent.

The more he thought about it, the more amazed he was.

‘Was there ever a genius like this?’

The people around him had all been considered geniuses. But every one of them had amazing skills, knowledge, or mentors at their foundation.

Only Marika had created the best technique entirely on her own.

Of course, she hadn’t completed it yet. But Ghislain knew—Marika would eventually succeed in realizing her vision.

Ghislain cleared his throat and said.

“Ahem, you’ve definitely got talent. Doing all that on your own, that says a lot.”

“...So what. It’s all useless anyway.”

“Hey! You think creating a new technique is easy? If it were, everyone would just make their own. That’s not something anyone can do. So, uh, don’t get too arrogant about it, okay?”

It was hard to tell whether it was praise, comfort, or a scolding.

After that, Ghislain lowered all the floating daggers.

“Anyway, I’ll teach you this technique. I’ll even help improve your mana method. That way, you’ll be able to become a transcendent.”

If someone else had heard that, they would have been overwhelmed with joy. But Marika looked at him with suspicious eyes first.

It was understandable. She had lived hiding from the very organization she belonged to—of course she couldn’t easily trust others.

Sure enough, she asked cautiously.

“Why? Why are you doing this for me?”

Ghislain thought for a moment.

Trust is something that takes time. There was no way he could make her believe him now.

But he couldn’t let her go, hoping to meet her again someday.

‘The past has already changed quite a bit.’

He didn’t know the original past. But with Rahamod and Tagmah dead, he could at least sense that history had deviated.

That meant Marika’s future was also uncertain. Letting her go, thinking they’d meet again, could mean she ends up dead.

No matter what, he had to keep her here and help her grow as one of the Hero’s companions.

He couldn’t tell her it was because he knew the future. In the end, Ghislain simply voiced the personal feeling he had when he saw her.

“It just... reminded me of the past.”

“The past?”

Fwoooosh.

Ghislain spread mana around them. It was to ensure that their conversation couldn’t be heard by others.

“I also lost people I cared about... and dreamed of revenge.”

“...”

“You don’t have to believe me. But I think you’ve felt the same emotions I did.”

Ghislain calmly shared what kind of emotions he had lived with.

How long he had dreamed of revenge. How painful it had been. And how lonely it was.

As she listened, Marika pressed down on her eyelids. Tears kept welling up and leaking out.

She believed him. That deep emotion was something only someone who had truly longed for revenge could express.

So she asked,

“You... did you succeed in your revenge?”

Ghislain shook his head with a smile.

“Not yet. I haven’t completely settled it.”

He had missed Ernheart. If he returned to the future, he would have to find him and kill him.

So his revenge wasn’t over yet.

Ghislain looked at Marika with gentle eyes.

“...When I look at you, it feels like I’m looking at my past self. That’s why I want to help you.”

“...”

“I’ll teach you everything I know. You’ll be able to master it faster than anyone else. And someday... you really will become the strongest assassin on the continent.”

He couldn’t tell her about the future. But Ghislain’s feelings were genuine.

He didn’t doubt Marika’s story at all. She would become a companion of the Hero and help save the world.

Eventually, she would help found the Kingdom of Ruthania and become the founder of the Shadow Knights.

And even if she had lied, it wouldn’t matter. What mattered now was that Marika would join the Julien Mercenary Corps.

Sniffling, Marika asked,

“Are you... really okay with this? Because of me, your group might be in danger.”

“It doesn’t matter. Anyone who comes after us—we’ll just crush them. And if you officially join our mercenary corps, they won’t be able to touch you so easily.”

Ghislain was someone who made sure to protect his own.

Having decided to bring Marika over to his side, Ghislain was prepared to give her his full support. At Ghislain’s confident words, Marika found herself smiling without realizing it.

‘He’s a pervert... but strangely, I feel like I can trust him.’

To be called the strongest assassin on the continent—it was an absurd claim. /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ But for a moment, she found herself thinking it might actually be possible. That was how convincing Ghislain’s confidence and composure were. And it wasn’t a bad proposal either. If she officially joined the Julien Mercenary Corps, she’d be safe for the time being. During that time, she could absorb as much technique as possible and grow stronger.

‘Yeah, I’ll do that... Just use them for a while...’

She tried to stay calm and rational. She intended to take advantage of this situation.

But the tears kept flowing.

‘Like an idiot...’

She was growing increasingly soft-hearted toward Ghislain’s words. She had always been alone, always lonely. Never knowing when she’d die, she hadn’t been able to sleep peacefully even for a single night. She had honed her skills each day, always wary, always driven by revenge. She had never been able to lean on anyone. A life where collapsing at any moment wouldn’t have been strange. In such difficult days... Ghislain’s words had been a great comfort. For the first time, it felt like she had something to lean on.

In the end, Marika lowered her head and spoke.

“For now... I’ll be in your care.”

“Good. From now on, you’re one of us—part of the Julien Mercenary Corps.”

When Ghislain snapped his fingers, the field of mana vanished. He turned around and said,

“Marika’s decided to join us. Everyone, treat her well.”

The Julien Mercenary Corps all nodded. No one raised any objections or asked questions.

That was how much they trusted Ghislain. He never sided with evil. That meant Marika was someone worth trusting too.

And besides, once Ghislain made a decision, there was no point in objecting.

Marika bowed her head as she looked around at the members of the Julien Mercenary Corps.

“I’ll be in your care... The way we met was a little strange, but...”

Julien stepped forward first with a soft smile.

“It’s fine. Let’s get along well from now on.”

It was a perfectly picturesque, charming smile that anyone would admire.

Marika memorized each comrade’s face and characteristics as she looked around.

‘Handsome pervert.’

Next to Julien, Kyle swaggered.

“You look like you can fight. Let’s spar sometime. I’ll show you how strong I am.”

‘Cheerful pervert.’

Deneb also smiled kindly and said,

“Welcome. No matter what hardships come, the Goddess will surely protect you.”

‘Holy pervert.’

Ereneth pushed back her robe’s hood and looked haughtily composed.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ereneth.”

‘Elf pervert.’

Lionel spoke with a dignified expression.

“I imagine you know who I am. There seems to be some misunderstanding and problems, but as long as you’re here, you’ll be safe. I’ll guarantee that.”

‘Imperial pervert.’

They were all weird, but oddly kind. Marika found herself starting to like this group.

Maybe it was because she had lived in such deep loneliness until now that she felt this way.

‘Still, I’ll have to stop them from doing anything perverted in the future.’

It wouldn’t be easy for her, who had just joined, to step up, but she planned to step in anytime she saw something questionable.

Marika’s subordinates were also forcibly recruited into the Julien Mercenary Corps. They looked bewildered, but inwardly they were quite happy.

They had followed Marika because they, too, held grudges against the organization. They had resolved themselves to die—but now that they had a way to survive, of course they were glad.

To Marika and the assassins, Lionel spoke sternly.

“The Julien Mercenary Corps is a mercenary corps with very strict discipline. So there’s something you should know first.”

“...???”

“Starting today, you’re the rookies. Don’t forget that.”

Lionel emphasized just how many tasks the rookie had to do. He was eager to escape the rookie position himself.

Ereneth, who had joined later, was being treated with respect, and Lionel was irritated that he was still stuck as the newbie.

Marika smiled lightly and said,

“Got it. That much isn’t hard at all.”

Marika had grown up in a harsh assassin group since she was a child. Being a mere rookie in a mercenary corps was nothing to her.

When Marika readily agreed, Lionel let out a sigh of relief.

‘Whew. If she refused, it could’ve turned into a whole mess.’

From her movements, Lionel had sensed Marika wasn’t just any fighter. If he picked a fight and lost, it’d be embarrassing—so he’d been a bit tense.

With the hierarchy now settled, the group was finally ready to depart.

Before leaving, Ghislain looked around and shouted loudly.

“Marika is now a member of the Julien Mercenary Corps! Keep that in mind and don’t do anything reckless!”

It was a message to the Crips assassins still hiding in the distance.

They were probably quite flustered right now.

“Alright, let’s move. This village really doesn’t suit me.”

At Ghislain’s prompting, the Julien Mercenary Corps packed their things and moved out immediately.

The villagers breathed a sigh of relief as they watched the group leave.

“Those weirdos are finally gone.”

“Ah dear, what’s going to happen to those travelers...”

“There’s nothing we can do. It’s not something we can interfere in.”

To the villagers, it looked like some innocent travelers had been beaten and forcibly taken by the Julien Mercenary Corps.

It was unfortunate, but they couldn’t step in. They were already terrified by the mercenary corps’ bizarre behavior.

After the Julien Mercenary Corps left, the village chief gave strict orders to the villagers.

“Everyone, keep your mouths shut. We can’t let this story spread.”

It wasn’t for the mercenary corps’ sake. They were afraid those erratic lunatics would hear the rumors and come back.

Of course, the fact that Ghislain had given them a generous payment likely played a part.

But above all, they just didn’t want to get involved with weird people again.

The chief quickly put up a sign at the village entrance.

[No Entry for Outsiders (Especially Mercenary Corps)]

They had no intention of accepting any more strangers whose identities they couldn’t confirm.

Thanks to the chief’s quick action, the Julien Mercenary Corps’ notoriety didn’t spread further.