Several wizards dispatched directly by the kingdom stood at the murder sites of the two former rulers. They examined the remnants of magic left behind with meticulous care.
“These magical traces…” one wizard murmured while touching the ground. “The guards were killed at close range with sharp weapons, but some have holes in their heads. That isn’t from melee weapons, but rather from ranged weapons. And the same goes for the ruler…”
“So does that mean there were two perpetrators?”
“Yes. And tracking them is very difficult. They seem adept at hiding their traces… or perhaps they purposely left these tracks behind.”
“Let’s submit this report to our superior first.”
“Understood.”
One of them sneered.
“Could it be that a revolution is about to happen… in this rotten kingdom?”
Arya and Dina walked along the edge of the forest.
“Hey, Ar… do you think we’ll be safe after killing two city rulers?” Dina asked quietly. “Who's our next target?”
“Don’t worry,” Arya replied. “As I said, we leave only a little trace of our magic and erase the rest. Since there were two distinct attack methods and elemental magics used, they will have a hard time tracking them—no matter how skilled they think they are. The next target is to the east. The city is called Ekpiro.”
“Ekpiro? What kind of name is that? It sounds awful,” Dina scoffed. “By the way, what happened to those cities we liberated after the rulers died?”
“They must have been replaced by someone else. Hopefully a good person. Like Lila, which now supposedly has a good ruler. But Siju—if its replacement turned out corrupt too… well, that means they don’t fear death.”
“Mwahahaha! So if the successor is corrupt again, we just kill them too?”
“Of course! But… maybe we should start leaving messages at the scene. Something like ‘Our aim is corrupt rulers’ death.’”
Dina frowned suspiciously. “A message? Wouldn’t that just give them a chance to pretend to be good so they won’t be killed? And wouldn’t that ruin our mystery?”
Arya smiled. “True. You are smart sometimes.”
“Tch.”
“Hey Ar, will you really go in and fight inside the mansion yourself?”
“Of course! My hands are itching to kill the ruler of Ekpiro!”
“I— I can do it myself, you know…”
“That’s impossible. I won’t let you kill a filthy creature like that. I don’t want your hands tainted by trash like him. He was not only hiking up taxes and causing suffering, but also a slave trader. All the rumors about him during our journey were full of corruption.”
“I do want to kill him myself.”
“Let me handle it,” Arya said, patting Dina’s head as if she were a child.
The city of Ekpiro turned out to be more horrifying than they had imagined. Emaciated people wandered the streets, while spectacular auctions sold slaves. Arya and Dina quickly devised their strategy once they saw the depths of the city’s depravity.
Night fell.
Arya raised his firearm charged with fire and water magic—bolstered into ice. The gunshots echoed in the darkness. They rampaged, killing everyone related to the ruler. Guards, slave traders, buyers—everyone was massacred.
KKK! KKK!
Bullets pierced heads, burning and freezing them instantaneously. Dina’s dagger slashes cleaved through enemy bodies, severing necks, arms, abdomens, and legs in one swift motion.
“Master, run! Many guards are dead!”
“What use are they?! I hired over a hundred guards!”
“They’re useless! They’re too weak! Our guards—even those seasoned adventurers—couldn’t handle them! And the opponents… just two kids!”
“Kids?! Veteran adventurers were defeated by two kids?! Damn!!”
SRETT! The sound of a door being cut open by Dina.
Arya and Dina entered. “Good evening, you filthy beasts. May you burn in hell eternally.”
Arya shot the heads of the ruler and his secretary. Previously, he also killed the ruler’s child and spouse, equally vile. The servants screamed hysterically—and, as always, were left alive.
Two days later…
“Heard the ruler of Ekpiro is dead too!”
“Haha! Thank goodness! They were just a burden to the people.”
“They say the scene looked terrifying. Even after it was over, the murderer was heard whistling calmly.”
“They even got a nickname.”
“Yeah—EXONE. Executor One.”
“Cool nickname! Because they just executed living trash!”
In the Royal Palace…
Sekius slammed a hand on the table. “EXONE?! Who gave them that name?! Doesn’t that just give them more attention?!”
“Your Majesty… the people gave them that nickname.”
“Have the perpetrators been found yet?!”
“Not yet. Even the best investigators are struggling. They left minimal magic traces, as though deliberately giving a clue.”
“Useless!”
Sekius—the king more merciless than the executed rulers—teeth clenched in anger. Beside him stood a mysterious man. He was a direct subordinate of the king, leader of a chosen organization whose power was said to rival that of Arya and Dina combined.
Meanwhile…
“Achoo!” Arya and Dina sneezed together.
“Why did we sneeze at the same time?” Dina asked.
“No idea… maybe lots of people are talking about us.”
“Could be. Even along the journey we heard the name EXONE mentioned.”
“Haha!”
“Why are you laughing?! You like being called that?!”
“Not really. But it’s easier to refer to us that way. So let it be.”
In a dark room…
“EXONE? Who are they?”
“Serial killers targeting corrupt rulers.”
“Interesting. I don’t care if corrupt rulers die, but I like the strong ones.”
“Anyone here want to intervene?”
“I will!” someone declared. “Don’t interrupt me—let me deal with them!”
They were SEVEN ECLIPSE. Seven members without morals, under the order of the king’s adjutant…
After their success in Ekpiro, Arya and Dina continued their journey toward the city of Seji, located to the north according to their map.
“According to this map, if we head north, we’ll reach Seji,” Arya said. “But it’s not our target. That city is peaceful.”
“So you won’t intervene there?” Dina asked.
“No. We’ll just pass through.”
They entered Seji and found that the rumors were favorable. No signs of a corrupt ruler.
“The smell of delicious food here,” Arya said, inhaling deeply.
“I want to buy it!” Dina said. “Do we still have money from the previous city? We got a lot of treasure there.”
“We still do. I took some for provisions.”
“Yay! We should buy plenty of supplies. And we still have the magic bag, right?”
“Don’t go overboard. We might run out of money.”
“Okay, okay...”
After filling their supplies, they traveled on to Tizar. It would take five days to get there. During the journey, they encountered a slave trader abusing a child.
“Come on! Move faster!”
“I-I’m trying…”
Dina glanced at Arya. “Should I step in?”
“Go ahead. Be careful.”
Clang—slash! In a flash, Dina severed the bodies of those scoundrels until they lay in pieces.
She crouched down. “Are you okay? Hey, Ar, come over here. He looks very weak. Can you heal him?”
“Yes. HEAL!”
The child was healed but still weak. Arya took food from his bag and offered it.
“Here, eat something.”
“Th-thank you so much….”
“Now you’re safe. Eat slowly… What’s your name?”
“I don’t have one…”
“Hm? What if I give you a name and you come with us?”
“Why? To where?”
“Let me introduce myself, I’m Arya Setya and this battle-obsessed woman is Dina. We’re here to execute corrupt rulers. I see you have potential. You can help fill gaps in our group.”
“Hah?! Who do you call battle-obsessed?!” Dina interjected.
“I… I’m not talented. If I were, I wouldn’t end up like this…”
“Precisely because you have talent, you were being targeted for sale. Trust me. We are here to revolutionize the world.”
The child looked at him with hopeful eyes. “Okay… please take me. I want revenge on those who killed my parents.”
“Good spirit! From now on, your name is Gamma. It means ‘three,’ because you’re the third member of our group. Welcome, my fair maiden.”
“Gamma... Thank you… May I call you brother?”
“Of course. And call her sister too.”
“Nice to meet you, Gamma,” Dina smiled.
“Nice to meet you too, second sister,” Gamma replied shyly.
“Haha, good! Also… looking at what I saw, you have a talent for disappearing. Perfect as an intelligence gatherer. Your role is information, not direct combat.”
“???” Gamma was confused. “What do you mean?”
“You’ll understand later. I’ll teach you.”
They headed into the forest to train Gamma. The training lasted two weeks until Gamma could vanish completely. The execution in Tizar was delayed, but eventually Gamma’s debut arrived.
“Alright, you know how to disappear now. You’ll be behind me, right?” Arya asked while walking ahead.
Gamma answered from behind. “How did you know I’m behind you?”
“Don’t think too much,” Dina interrupted. “She’s abnormal!”
“I don’t want to hear that from you!” Arya shot back.
“What?!”
Gamma chuckled softly, seeing them bicker.
“Gamma, later you’ll enter the city and gather intelligence. We’ll wait on the outskirts. Here’s some money for you.”
“Eh, can I get some too?” Dina asked.
“Okay, here.”
Gamma started at the bar. Invisibly, she eavesdropped on the city’s condition, then infiltrated the mansion. She counted the guards, located the ruler, found the secret room where slaves were imprisoned, and identified family members. After noting everything, she returned.
“Well done, Gamma!” Arya praised, patting the little girl’s head.
“That was an amazing debut,” added Dina.
“Thank you…” Gamma’s cheeks turned red.
“This evening, you know how to open the secret room, right? Free all the slaves there.”
“Okay, Master!”
Night came. Dina killed gate and entrance guards silently. She entered the mansion and systematically eliminated foes—perhaps to impress Gamma with her performance.
“Ar, I’m done. The ruler is on the third floor, inside the chamber.”
“Understood. Lock and… farewell.” Phuu! A silent shot pierced the head of the sleeping ruler, as well as his family. Only the servants were spared.
Kerchak! The hidden door opened. Gamma walked in.
“Wow… that was terrifying… Now you all are free. Please, leave one by one. Some of you are injured. Can he heal you?”
“Wait right here.” Arya approached, healed them, and told them to go.
Another execution succeeded.
Meanwhile, in the city of Deraji…
“Hey!!! Bring us the best alcohol!! Don’t know who we are?! We are EXONE!!”
Whispers.
“Huh?! Exone?! But why do they act like criminals?”
“Ssst! Quiet! You’ll get killed!”
“Bring that woman here. She’s so beautiful!”
“Come quickly! Our boss wants you!”
“Kyaaa! Don’t touch me!”
“Huh?! Who do you think you are?! We are EXONE!”
Whispers.
“They’ve been here a week. But rumor says Exone is two kids… Why do they act like indebted old men?!”
“Ssst! Quiet! Whether they’re Exone or not, talk lightly and you’re dead!”
Suddenly...
Kerchak!
Mars stood at the bar’s entrance, his smile wicked. “Hooo… so you are Exone?”
“W-who is that? A kid? Go home! We are Exone!”
“So, you really are Exone, huh? In that case… die.” FIRE STORM!
Mars unleashed a massive flame that consumed the entire bar and everyone in it.
When the fire died, he snorted in frustration. “Huh? Why did they all die?! We spent weeks chasing a liar?! Damn!”
In the city of Merak…
Arya sat relaxed, sipping tea. Dina and Gamma lounged beside him.
“Wuuu... peace is beautiful, isn’t it,” Arya murmured.
“It truly is. The ruler in this city is good. The city is orderly too,” said Dina.
“The food here is delicious too! Sis Dina, let’s go to the hot spring!” invited Gamma.
“Let’s go!”
They walked off together, leaving Arya alone.
“Sis Dina is really pretty… Sky-blue hair and brown eyes,” praised Gamma.
“Ah no… You’re the prettiest and cutest. Golden hair and emerald-green eyes… You’re adorable!” Dina hugged her tightly.
“Ouch! Sis, it hurts! Don’t hug so hard!”
“Sorry~ Hehe. Because you’re cute!”
“Are you from the same village as Arya?”
“Yes. We’re from the abandoned village. Everyone was starving back then. Arya started rebuilding the village, teaching farming, building water channels… Then we trained in the forest. After three years, we left. He said he believed in me.”
“Were there other children in that village?”
“There were. But they said bringing many people would be troublesome. The others weren’t talented. Different from you. You have talent, so you can help.”
“My parents were killed by slave traders… We were merchants, but bandits raided us. We were sold, and my parents were killed because they were deemed worthless… That’s why I want revenge.”
Dina hugged her gently. “So you went through that… Don’t worry, we will eliminate all evil people from this world.”
“...”
“Come on, enough soaking. Stay too long and you’ll feel dizzy.”
“Okay, Sis.”
They returned to Arya, still sipping tea.
“How was it? Fun?” Arya asked.
“It’s nice! So refreshing!” Gamma exclaimed.
“Indeed,” added Dina.
“Our next target is the city of Eryua. This time the guards are elite, and someone might be chasing us too.”
“Elite guards are manageable. But who’s chasing us?” asked Dina.
“I heard from the villagers someone claimed to be Exone in Deraji, and two days ago they disappeared, burned along with their bar.”
“So that means someone knows where we’re headed?”
“Perhaps. The nearest city from Tizar is Merak. After that comes Eryua. If anything seems suspicious, report via the communication device, okay? Don’t act alone.”
“Understood!”
“We’ll head to Eryua tomorrow. Three-day journey. Prepare your supplies and sleep now. Gamma, we’ll train during the journey.”
“Train? For what?”
“You’re intel. Even if you don’t fight up front, you need survival basics. Vanishing is great, but you can be tracked if the opponent has Search ability. Ready to train?”
“Ready, Sis! Please teach me!”
“Good. If we train while traveling, we’ll reach in seven days. Sleep now.”
“Good night~”
In the city of Tizar…
Mars paced amid the ruins.
“Tch! Where are they?! They’re so hard to track! Even investigating the cities they passed didn’t yield any rumor that matched! Two kids? Who would bother searching for two kids?! Maybe they’re in Merak next… Based on their route.”