[That Same Night – Inside the High-Ranking Police Officer's Mansion]
In the top-floor office, Jake's father—Colonel Thanannont—stood before a large window, his face filled with stress. Jake walked in irritably after being summoned.
Jake: "Why did you call me up here again? Are you going to lecture me about this evening?"
Thanannont (turning around): "It's not just about this evening... it's about everything you've been doing all along."
Jake (shrugging): "So what? They deserved it... especially that blank-faced bastard! He stole Mell—"
BANG!
The sound of a palm slamming the wooden desk echoed, making Jake jump.
Thanannont (voice harsh): "You have no idea who I encountered last night...! Someone I saw during a classified operation years ago... just his shadow made an entire unit disappear in 30 minutes!!"
Jake (going quiet): "...Are you talking about... Death?"
Thanannont (narrowing eyes): "Yes... and I won't let my son die because of his own stupidity."
He walked closer until he was right in front of Jake, then spoke in an ice-cold tone:
Thanannont: "Tomorrow morning... pack your bags. You're being sent to special naval military school. No discussion, no arguments."
Jake (eyes widening): "What!? I don't want to—"
Thanannont (pointing at his face): "If you don't go... you're fucked. Not just with me... but you'll face 'him' again, and next time... he won't let you walk away like today."
Jake pressed his lips tight, clenching his fists in anger but not daring to argue back. He nodded irritably before walking out of the room.
[When the Door Closed]
Thanannont slumped into his chair, turning back toward the window, fists clenched.
Thanannont (murmuring): "...I'm sorry... for letting my son become like this... but I won't let him face Death again... absolutely not."
[Same Time – Training Ground Behind the House]
Moonlight filtered gently through the tree canopy, evening breeze rustling leaves with a soft whisper... Teek stood breathing lightly, his shirt soaked with sweat, while Death stood opposite, still as stone in the night.
Death: "Your movement slows down when switching to defense... try again."
Teek gritted his teeth before lunging into another attack following the training pattern—but Death dodged easily and tapped his shoulder, making him lose balance.
Death: "Getting better, but your focus isn't connected to your awareness yet."
Teek: (breathing hard) "...I won't give up... I want to be able to protect someone."
Death quietly watched his determined expression for a moment before nodding.
Death: "Then listen carefully... 'my power' doesn't come from anger, doesn't come from hard training alone, but from one resolve... 'kill to protect.'"
He drew his short knife from its sheath, twirling it lightly in his hand before planting it in the ground in front of Teek.
Death: "Every weapon I use... is only for stopping those who deserve to be stopped."
Teek stared at the blade reflecting moonlight, his eyes holding a determination different from before.
Teek: "I... will learn to do that."
Death (looking at him seriously): "Good... now try to focus more than this—not just your body, but your mind too."
[Corner of the House – Inside the Small Bedroom]
Mell curled up gently under her blanket. Alice's eyes fluttered open... she looked out the window before closing them again.
Alice (thinking): "You're creating something, aren't you, Death..."
[Back to Training Ground]
Sweat soaked Teek's shirt, but he began moving faster. Though still not smooth, his eyes began to shine with the light of someone who was "awakening."
Death (thinking): "Good... starting to see the spark, Teek."
[Training Ground – Near 1 AM]
The sound of feet touching ground mixed softly with Teek's breathing. Death continued tracking his movements closely.
Death: "Don't just stare at the ground... enemies won't spare you just because you're confused."
Teek gritted his teeth before raising his arms to receive Death's teaching strike for the first time.
Teek: "Hah... I won't be a burden anymore..."
Death stopped his attack at that moment, looking at Teek's face stained with sweat and dirt. He sighed softly.
Death: "...Because of what happened the other day, I'm starting to be certain that this place... isn't safe anymore."
Teek looked at him in shock.
Death (evenly): "One day I might not be here—maybe because of a mission, or because I need to take Alice somewhere to handle something."
Death drew his knife again, then handed it to Teek to hold temporarily.
Death: "If you truly love Mell... you have to be able to protect her. Not with sweet words... but with a heart brave enough to stand in front of her when there's danger."
Teek looked at the knife in his hand. He didn't answer, but gripped it tight.
Death (voice firm): "I see the spark in you. You're not weak... you just haven't accepted that you can change someone's world too."
Death stepped back two paces.
Death: "That's enough for tonight... but this isn't the end. It's just your beginning, Teek."
Teek stood still, his eyes shining with a new light, still gripping the knife tight.
Teek continued standing still, looking at the knife in his hand as if it were too precious to hold casually. He slowly raised it to his chest, as if storing Death's words deep in his heart.
Teek (whispering to himself): "I will be able to protect her..."
He carefully stored the knife in his inner pants pocket, like it was an unbreakable promise.
Death watched the scene quietly before speaking with a more relaxed tone:
Death: "That's enough for tonight. Go shower and get to bed."
Teek looked up with slight confusion.
Death (corner smile): "Tomorrow's training will be twice as hard, you know. Since Mell has summer break for over two months..."
Teek paused slightly before his face turned red immediately.
Death (teasing slightly): "Or would you rather not stay for more training?"
Teek (stammering): "I'll stay! I'll train as hard as possible!"
Death chuckled softly in his throat before turning to walk back to the house.
Death: "Then hurry up and shower before I change my mind and start training at 3 AM."
Teek smiled despite his exhaustion, his heart feeling strangely lighter. He quickly ran back into the house, amid moonlight casting down on the empty training ground.
[Training Ground – 7 AM]
Morning sunlight streamed through trees, shadows of the old wooden fence stretching long across the dry earth. Dust scattered slightly as Teek's body jumped backward, dodging Death's punch before lunging back to attack relentlessly.
Death (firm voice): "Use your feet to steady your weight. Don't charge with emotion, use focus!"
Thud!
Death's fist deflected to lightly tap Teek's chest with controlled force. Teek's body fell back but still stretched to return steadily.
Teek (breathing hard): "Hah... still... still got it!"
Nearby under the big tree, Mell sat on a wooden chair with a book spread on her lap, but she watched the training with a wide smile.
Mell (shouting encouragement): "Fight on, Teek! Don't forget to stretch your back when you turn!"
Teek (turning to smile): "Yes! Understood!"
Beside Mell, Alice stood with arms crossed, watching the scene quietly before speaking to Death:
Alice: "His movement is still too slow. He's clumsy with the knife too, but his eyes are getting steadier."
Death nodded slightly before tossing a practice knife to Teek.
Death: "Next, use the knife. Footwork 3 steps, diagonal slash then retreat... don't forget the rhythm."
Teek took the knife and began training seriously with Death. The sound of clashing mock steel rang out *clang clang*. Alice walked closer to Death and spoke up:
Alice (pretending to speak softly): "This instructor seems tougher than I thought..."
Death (glancing over): "Have to be tough, or he won't be able to protect who matters."
Alice paused slightly before looking away.
Alice (face slightly red): "Well... that's true."
Mell, sitting nearby, smiled secretly at the atmosphere in front of her before turning back to her book again, letting the training ground become a stage for Teek's transformation and a stage for someone's emerging feelings...
[Training Ground – Noon, Hot Sun but Cool Breeze]
Sweat drenched Teek's body like he'd just run a marathon. He panted heavily, resting under the tree shade while Death wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
Death: "That's enough for now. Go wash your face, clean up, then come eat."
Teek (panting): "Yes sir... just hearing the word 'food' feels like getting new energy..."
Death (turning to look at Alice slightly, then speaking awkwardly): "But... Teek, what do you want to eat? I'll go out with... Alice to buy something."
Alice (turning sharply): "Huh? What? Going with me?"
Death (looking elsewhere slightly): "Just... just buying stuff. Nothing special..."
Mell (sitting nearby, laughing softly): "Teek, hurry go wash up. Tell us what you want to eat or you'll go hungry~"
Teek (laughing): "Okay, then I want special barbecue pork rice!"
He ran toward the house with fading laughter, leaving only strange silence between Death and Alice.
Mell (standing up with a sweet smile before teasingly continuing): "I can prepare plates and other stuff myself. You two hurry up and go~"
She turned to look at Death and Alice with a mischievous smile, then gave them a knowing look before walking into the house.
Death turned to look at Alice again before speaking softly:
Death: "...Let's go."
Alice looked down slightly before nodding gently:
Alice: "...Mm."
Both walked side by side away from the house, amid gentle sunlight and breeze that swayed leaves softly, like the slow heartbeat of someone who still didn't dare speak their full mind...
[Small Road in the Community – Early Afternoon, Gentle Sun]
The sound of Death's boots hitting the concrete lightly alongside Alice's lighter but rhythmic footsteps. Both walked along the road unhurriedly.
From the outside... they might look like just a man and woman going shopping together on an ordinary day off, but looking deeper into their eyes revealed something unusual.
Alice (stealing a glance at Death): "...Wasn't training a bit too hard today? Teek could barely stand up."
Death (responding evenly): "He needs to be stronger than this if he wants to protect who he loves."
Alice paused slightly hearing the words "who he loves" but didn't say anything more. Her lips just lifted slightly before quickly dropping.
As they walked past vegetable stalls, whispered voices from people rose up:
One vendor (whispering): "Is that the guy... Death..."
An old person (speaking softly): "Heard his name years ago... shadow assassin... why's he walking around in broad daylight like this..."
Death heard everything, but his emotions didn't waver like they used to. The ice-cold eyes of old days now held hints of embarrassment and gentleness.
Alice (speaking softly): "...You heard that, right?"
Death (quiet for a moment before answering): "Fuck it. They're looking at the past... but I'm not that person anymore."
Alice looked at his face before speaking softly with a gentle smile:
Alice: "...Yeah, I know."
Both stopped in front of a rice shop, looking at the menu in the window.
Death (soft voice, but sounding firm): "Alice... thank you for still walking beside me."
Alice (cheeks slightly colored): "...If you were still the same person, I wouldn't be here."
Death (slight corner smile): "Good then, because I don't want to be that 'old me' anymore..."
His eyes transformed clearly—warmer and more alive than ever. Then he gently pushed the shop door and spoke to the seller:
Death: "Three special barbecue pork rice sets please... in bags."