Enrollment Prep 2: Dawn of Hope Village
599 Hope Village's dawn was no longer shrouded in the ashen gray of despair. The morning sun rose over the freshly paved road at the center of the golden wheat fields, gilding the sweat-slicked backs of the hardworking men. The Blood Raven mercenaries, who once wielded swords, now gripped hammers instead. Their shouts were no longer cries of plunder but vigorous chants of construction, echoing through the air.
At the heart of that transformation stood the one-eyed Taylor, his corrupt-looking visage unchanged, but his single eye now gleamed with an unfamiliar light of responsibility instead of servility. Dressed in a worn but clean shirt, he bustled across the site, clumsily building homes in the name of hope.
"Gartus! Can't you check the level properly? You trying to bring the house down?"
At Taylor's bellow, the squat Gartus, sweating profusely, replied, "Sorry, Captain! I'll check it again!"
But a sinister shadow was approaching to shatter that peaceful morning. At the village entrance, two hulking horsemen kicked up dust as they appeared. Their armor bore the emblem of a roaring giant: the Giant Mercenary Corps, raiders from the Brutal Kingdom.
"What the... rumors were true? Hey, Cyclops. You the boss here? You look the toughest."
Looking down from their mounts, their eyes held a hint of tension. Even elite Giant mercenaries wouldn't underestimate Taylor's imposing presence.
Taylor swallowed dryly and stepped forward. "What is it? Giant Mercenary Corps?"
"Heard Roel hyung kicked the bucket... that true?"
Taylor didn't yield an inch to the massive men. He had something to rely on.
"The Blood Ravens no longer deal with the Giant Mercenary Corps. Go back to your kingdom. This is the Republic of Korea Cult State."
Six grim-faced guards sauntered over with weapons in hand to join Taylor. No—all the Blood Ravens working on the site gathered, standing firm before them. The two horsemen hesitated at the numbers, but raised their voices louder.
"Our captain warned you. If you don't prepare double the tribute by today, this little play village will turn into a bloodbath."
"Fuck off, you little shits. We cut ties with you assholes. Get lost already."
Unable to contain his rage at Taylor's taunt, the messenger yanked his reins. "Tonight, the Giant Mercenary Corps' bloody vengeance will come."
They turned away with mocking laughter. In their wake fell a heavy silence and creeping fear. The faint spark of hope on the mercenaries' faces extinguished in an instant. They knew the Giants never broke their word.
"Captain... what do we do?" Gartus asked in a trembling voice.
Taylor clenched his fists, rage and helplessness surging through him. Then, one name flashed in his mind. Their sole hope.
"It's fine. We've got... the Seventh Prince on our side."
With shaking hands, he pulled out his phone and held down speed dial 1.
As the appointed time arrived, the village entrance was blanketed in the banners of the Giant Mercenary Corps. Over a hundred heavily armed mercenaries surrounded Hope Village like a noose.
Leading them was their captain, 'Steel Fist Volk', flashing his iron prosthetic arm with a ferocious grin.
The Blood Ravens stood against them with battered weapons—barely fifty strong. The power gap was obvious. Fear spread like mist.
"Cyclops, heard you mouthed off to my messengers. Ready to die?"
At Volk's mocking tone, Taylor ground his teeth. He'd contacted Hadojin, but no reply yet.
'Are we... truly abandoned?'
That moment of despair gripping his heart—
Thud. Thud.
All eyes turned. Through the center of the encirclement, along the new road, a man strolled leisurely. A small fluffball perched on his shoulder, his face as calm as if on a picnic.
It was Hadojin.
"Seventh Prince...!" Hope flooded Taylor's voice.
Volk scowled, sizing Hadojin up and down. "You the cult's Seventh Prince? Just like the rumors—a milky-smelling punk. Hard to believe you killed Roel."
"Rumors are for confirming."
Hadojin brushed past Volk and stood before Taylor. He swept his gaze over the terrified Blood Ravens and said lowly,
"Chin up. How can my people bow their heads before such trash?"
His quiet voice carried absolute authority. The mercenaries straightened unconsciously.
Hadojin turned back to Taylor. "Good call making you captain, Taylor. You look just villainous enough to scare the Giant messengers shitless."
At Hadojin's out-of-left-field praise(?), Taylor bowed his head. But Gartus beside him scowled darkly. He flung his shovel aside and stomped toward Hadojin.
"Seventh Prince! How can you say such harsh words!"
Cold sweat poured down Taylor's back as his subordinate confronted the prince. 'You crazy bastard, what the hell are you doing?!'
But Gartus puffed out his chest and bellowed, "You stressed not judging by appearances against inhumans, so why belittle our captain as 'looking like a villain'!"
Hadojin watched the unexpected outburst with amused interest, arms crossed. 'No, you idiot! Don't step up! The Giants are invading right now!'
Gartus ranted on. "Don't discriminate based on ugly looks and divide good from evil! Our captain is righteous and keeps his oaths!"
Snickers erupted around them. Taylor wanted to rip Gartus's jaw off right then.
"Our captain's just an ugly guy who farms well!!"
'Ah... fuck...' Taylor's vision darkened.
Gartus piled on. "He's just ugly!! Just because he's ugly... why..."
"Shut it!! You fucking retard! You're the real asshole!"
Taylor finally exploded.
"Pfft...!"
Someone burst out laughing, and it spread like a contagion. Even Hadojin doubled over, chuckling. Giant mercenaries guffawed in disbelief.
Only Volk didn't laugh. Amid the absurdity, he never took his eyes off Hadojin's. That man was dangerous. His instincts screamed it.
"Enough laughter."
As Volk raised his steel fist, the mirth died.
"Punk, if you really killed Roel, prove that power before me. Or I'll hang your head at the cult's gates!"
With Volk's declaration, the Giant mercenaries charged with roars. The ground shook, metal clashing like thunder.
"Seventh Prince! Get back!" Taylor screamed, but Hadojin didn't flinch.
He gently set Mochi down from his shoulder and whispered, "Wait here a sec, Mochi. Daddy's gonna swat some flies."
Then he walked alone toward the hundred charging mercenaries. Bare-handed.
"Kill him!"
At Volk's order, the first mercenary swung a massive axe. Unavoidable. But Hadojin didn't dodge. He ducked like a boxing duck, slipped inside, and lightly slapped the man's breastplate with mana-charged palm.
Boom!
A deafening explosion mismatched the light tap. The breastplate crumpled like paper, the giant hurled back into his comrades.
All motion froze. They stared in disbelief.
Hadojin didn't stop. He flowed into the mercenary wave like a dancer. His movements were unpredictable. Fists, palms, elbows, knees—every part a lethal weapon. Where he passed, mercenaries screamed and fell. Bones snapped, armor dented, but none died. He controlled his power perfectly: disabling mercy.
"Is... is that human...?" the Blood Ravens muttered, awestruck. Hadojin no longer looked mortal. He was an angry god incarnate.
Finally, none blocked his path. Spotless, he stood before lone Volk.
"Your turn now."
Volk swallowed. Sweat beaded his brow. But he was a northern beast. No retreat.
"Raaargh!"
Roaring, he poured all mana into his steel fist and charged. Killing blow. But Hadojin remained serene. Just before impact, he caught the fist in his palm.
And whispered, "Weak."
Crunch!
Steel bent like taffy, shattering. Volk screamed in agony and shock.
Hadojin grabbed his collar, hoisting him. "You have two choices."
His voice boomed across the square. "Formally apologize to the Blood Ravens, recognize their independence henceforth, and respect them as equal partners. Or die here. Choose."
Volk clutched his ruined arm, kneeling at Hadojin's feet. Arrogance gone, only primal fear and awe remained.
"I... recognize your... independence... and respect as... partners."
At his surrender, surviving Giants dropped weapons and bowed.
Silence fell. Then Blood Ravens' cheers erupted.
"Woooaaah!"
"Long live the Seventh Prince! Long live Hadojin!"
They roared for their savior. Tears streamed down Taylor's face. Gartus, bruised-faced, cheered loudest.
Hadojin approached Taylor amid the adulation. "You're free now. No one's above you. Stand on your own strength. Call if you need help."
"Yes! Got it! We'll never forget this grace!" Taylor replied, overcome.
Hadojin patted his shoulder, picked up Mochi, and said, "Clean-up's on you."
As if nothing happened, he left Hope Village calmly.
In his wake rose a new order. Bonds forged not in fear, but respect and awe.
From that day, a new legend spread through Shin Seoul's back alleys: the cult's seventh prince who felled a hundred mercenaries bare-handed and knelt the northern beast. Feared. Revered.
That night, in the Giant Mercenary Corps' temporary camp. Volk stared at his bandaged arm, lost in thought. Humiliation kept sleep away. But greater was awe for the incomprehensible being.
'What... was that power?'
Then, a shadow stretched at the tent entrance. A woman emerged. Pale skin stark even in pitch black, glowing red eyes. Crimson liquid stained her lips.
"Captain Volk, you look a mess."
Her soft, eerie voice. Volk leaped up, drawing his sword. "Who are you?!"
She smirked. "Just a wanderer with thirst. But today, I caught a fascinating 'scent.' So potent, pure, sweet... essence of life."
Her gaze fixed on his shattered arm. "From the one who did this to you. What's his name?"
"None of your business. Get out!"
Volk swung, but she vanished like smoke, reappearing behind. Chill ran down his spine, freezing him.
"Tell me his name. Then I'll give you a chance to quench this eternal thirst."
Her finger brushed his nape. Irresistible pleasure drained his strength.
"H... his name is... Ha... dojin..."
Vision blurring, the name escaped his lips. Satisfied, she sank fangs into his neck.
"Hadojin... delicious name."
She drained him dry, tossing the husk aside. Before vanishing into darkness, she murmured, "Incubus semen... wonder what it tastes like."
Her red eyes gleamed ominously toward the capital.
In the academy's shadows, a new threat bared its fangs quietly.
