Killian kept his hand in his pockets, looking at the grasses like they were the most interesting thing.
After he took his mana restoration vial, George brought him to their first mission— a D-tier Realm.
George explained he chose a low tier realm due to Evelyn's and Juda's rank but Killian had a bad premonition about it.
He had sent them to a C-tier realm during practice so why did he downsize for the main mission?
"Are you alright back there?" George asked him.
Killian stopped, standing ten feet away from George. He looked over the man's uniform, a rather dull blue leather overall. "I'm good here. I'm just tired."
George smiled, but said nothing.
When they reached a clearing, George disappeared. Killian kept walking and when he reached the spot, he jumped over the clearing down the hill.
George was still nowhere to be found.
Killian took his hands out of his pockets, just in case. He couldn't help but feel like he's walking into George's trap.
He scanned the perimeter, then he heard his name being called. He returned his hands in his pocket.
This guy is taking his sweet time to do whatever he's planning.
"Killian!" Evelyn called again.
When he turned to her, he was taken aback, literally.
The gust of wind swept past him when she ran past and forced him to take a step back, and take his hands out of his pocket to stabilize himself.
She had definitely gotten her first skill.
"You are really fast now."
"Yeah! You noticed. Juda said it was the same speed. Pfft."
Killian looked at her uniform. It was mostly garters, but the seaming was zigzag like his. The trousers were large with similar belts on the waist.
Even the placement of the waist garters were the same. His sister must've met the same tailor.
"It's cool, right?" Evelyn flipped her hair proudly. "I designed it myself."
He nodded once. "Cool."
He looked around. "Where is Juda?"
Evelyn clicked her tongue. "That guy didn't do a thing I told him to. It seems like he's not in the mood today."
Killian found their supplies at the top of a cliff, with Juda resting on a cliff beside the supplies.
His uniform was a white robe with gold patterns. Even his shoes were white sneakers, and not boots.
Even if he missed the garters, he should care about not looking a mess after his first kill.
"Do you feel better? I couldn't visit you yesterday."
"Yes, because you got sick yourself." Juda said flatly, not even sparing him a glance. "It's not a competition, you know."
"Excuse you?" Evelyn looked him up and down.
Killian's lips pressed into a thin line as he narrowed his eyes at the boy who clearly had no interest in the conversation.
"Are you cranky because no one visited you?" The words came out less concerned than he wanted.
Juda's head snapped toward him. For a second, Killian noticed a faint glow flicker in his eyes.
He recognised it immediately. Ember Bloom.
His older sister had awakened one around Juda's age, but it was one of those famed prodigy skills that could trace heat.
Killian leaned closer to Juda. "You got your first skill. That's impressive. Only 1 out of 100 get that."
Juda froze, and the heat in his eyes faded a little. "I didn't know." He blinked once, and averted his gaze. "Th-Thanks."
He was just being cranky.
Killian reached out and placed his hand lightly on Juda's head, holding it there for a second.
It was too warm. Even warmer than he had been when he awakened the Fire Element recently.
He pulled back. "Welcome." He moved towards Evelyn. "He's still sick. Don't blame him."
Evelyn folded her arms, shrugging. "I don't mind. He probably didn't wear the garter because he knew he couldn't pull it off."
Footsteps approached them and they all looked at George. He walked to them, while reading from a holographic screen. "Briefing. Gather around."
Killian looked at the others. They were already on one spot. George didn't look up as he started.
"This Realm produces orc warriors for nearby villages. It is part of a larger chain of around fifty similar realms, supporting one main kingdom."
Killian's eyes sharpened slightly. He remembered the orcs he fought at Orcan Realms. It was likely one of the many Orcan Realms.
"They're building numbers," George continued. "We reduce their potential here before they grow into something harder to handle."
Killian tilted his head slightly. "How do we reduce their potential? By killing their young?"
Evelyn turned to him with wide eyes.
George smirked. "No."
Killian held his gaze for a second, then turned away.
He remembered Quara's reaction when he told her Big Stepper was his leader.
She mentioned one of his titles—'Serial Killer'.
He got it for hunting outlaws, and burying a building with outlawed orphans. He was the Warden sent to 'control' them.
Killian's fingers twitched slightly in his pockets. Not only monsters got killed.
"Kill any orc you see," George said. "I aggravated them so they'd send warriors. I'd send a notification when the numbers are well below the required limit."
So he didn't mind if more than necessary were killed? He really lived up to his title.
"Evelyn and Juda. Killian and I. Let's go."
Evelyn glared at Juda, and sighed. "Don't say any wrong thing while we work or I'd treat you as an orc."
"Back at you." Juda retorted.
His retort surprised her as he was usually laid-back. She tapped Killian, pointed at Juda and then gestured the 'slice-neck' gesture.
Killian sighed. "Please, don't."
"Prepare a nice coffin." She said in a low tone as she and Juda walked in the other direction.
Killian shifted his gaze to George. We are alone again.
"Let's move." George said, already moving.
Killian followed, staying behind him.
He kept a purposeful pace behind, his hands back in his pockets as they entered deeper into the Realm.
His eyes watched George more than the surroundings. They stopped when a group of orcs circled them in a muddy plain.
George stopped. "So?" he asked the one who stood behind him.
Killian stepped away from the mud, and stood on the grass. He took one hand out of his pocket.
A fireball formed in his palm and blasted an orc to the ground. Dead.
"Well, I did something. It's not like you really need this realm to test me."
George wore a knowing smile. "You did clear these realms that were higher than this. Very well."
He turned to the orcs, and his smile vanished.
"
Dust rose to the air.