# Enhanced Translation
Unlike what many believe, Ivan is an extremely sensible person.
Just as it's common sense that terrorist attacks occur at academy entrance ceremonies. This world was full of obvious common sense and primitive pre-modern citizens who couldn't believe in that common sense.
However, Ivan doesn't blame them. He is a cultured modern man with an open mind.
Instead, he packs an axe and a pistol.
Because in most cases, action is more helpful than persuasion in resolving situations.
This was how Ivan became involved in the Pritzenkaya bombing incident.
The incident begins, as usual, with following Asidis.
As always, Ivan was trailing behind Asidis. His stealth was perfect, the target would be safe, and there were no other potential threats in the vicinity. So that day was just like any other day.
'Hmm...'
She eats cookies frequently. Ivan decided to set aside a day to explain the problems generally caused by the fat, carbohydrates, and sugars contained in chocolate cookies.
Asidis already had excessive fat accumulation in certain areas. This wouldn't be an issue for a bard, but if she ever needed to wield a weapon in the future, it would be extremely disadvantageous.
I should prepare dried carrot chips as a snack alternative. Ivan nodded to himself as he followed Asidis.
After some time, Ivan suddenly felt someone's gaze and turned his head.
"Mister, what are you doing?"
"Work."
Isabelle appeared, glaring at him with remarkably fierce eyes.
She slowly shifted her gaze and, upon spotting Asidis in the distance directly in front of Ivan, frowned.
It was incomprehensible, but something seemed to have upset her. However, there was no need to worry.
Ivan runs an orphanage. This means he's experienced in soothing children whose moods have soured for unknown reasons. Besides, he had never done anything to upset Isabelle.
"Why are you watching Essie?"
"...What?"
"Essie. You're peeping at Essie right now."
"You misunderstand."
He had never peered at her. He was proudly carrying out his security duties.
The only thing he hadn't anticipated was Isabelle appearing on campus when she should have been attending class at this hour.
"Your class?"
"I saw you outside the window... No, is my class what's important right now?"
"...? It is important. Students shouldn't skip classes."
If she had been one of his orphans, he would have forced her back into the classroom, but has Isabelle forgotten that her home country is covering all her tuition?
Ivan clicked his tongue and said:
"If you're not on a full scholarship, you should focus on your classes. St. Yansk University is an expensive school."
"Ugh... That's true, but! No, are you going to keep changing the subject?! I asked why you were peeping at Essie!"
"That's not something you need to worry about."
"What...?!"
Isabelle looked deeply hurt. It was incomprehensible. Why would she be hurt by his telling her not to worry about his security work and to focus on her studies?
But Ivan was a kind person, so he knew how to comfort a pubescent (she's not) student's feelings.
What a confused pubescent child needs most when dealing with inexplicable problems is time alone. (Obviously not.)
As a thoughtful adult who decided not to nag her about returning to class, Ivan nodded and stepped back.
"No, where are you going? Give me an explanation, at least! Make an excuse or something! Argh!!"
Ivan slipped away instantly, leaving Isabelle in a state of panic. Unable to even think of chasing after him, she stared blankly at his retreating figure before laughing dejectedly.
"Should I really tie him up somewhere? I think I need to tie him up and teach him how to have a proper conversation with people..."
She had slipped out of class when she suddenly spotted him through the window.
And there he was, following Asidis around, scribbling something in his notebook.
Given his personality, she thought he was probably working on something, but still.
Still...!
"I'm throwing myself at him, and he's stalking my friend...?"
Isabelle laughed "huhu" and rubbed her face with her dry hands several times.
Alright.
She had a goal now.
'Domain of the Transcendent'? Right. That means I need to enter that domain just to cross blades with that madman?
She would step into that domain as quickly as possible, rise to a level where she could somehow defeat that man.
Capture and neutralize him, tie him up. Slowly. Thoroughly. Teach him common sense one by one.
Community service. Yes, with the mindset of community service.
Who else but me would take in this poor lonely old man (he's not) if not me?
Asidis was wandering around today as well, unable to find the ensemble practice room.
Orchestral ensemble, which included group performance evaluations, was her most dreadful class. Because no one was willing to include her in their group.
Therefore, she was trudging along in sadness.
"Practice room 154 is short one member."
"...?!"
Suddenly, Ivan appeared beside her and approached.
"Eek!?"
"Your class is [Ensemble Practice 1]. If you miss any more classes, won't your situation become precarious?"
"H-how did you know that...?"
"Now is not the time to worry about that."
Ivan pulled out a suspicious notebook from his pocket and spoke quietly.
"Midterm results: Ensemble Practice D, Harmony C, Sight-singing and Ear Training B+, Chamber Music C, String Ensemble D, Counterpoint B+. Your theoretical evaluation scores are generally better than your practical ones. But an average GPA in the mid-2 range is problematic."
"Ah... aah..."
"Why did you apply to the music department?"
Ivan looked at Asidis with his deep-set eyes.
Having never imagined hearing such words from a man she had simply considered a stalker, Asidis swallowed hard and lowered her head.
Why? Well, because... because she wanted to.
Because she wanted to hold instruments, not weapons.
Asidis fidgeted with her fingertips as she chose her words.
"Instruments, instruments... instruments are bridges that connect... connect people..."
"Excellent."
Ivan smiled gently.
Surprised by the unexpected smile, Asidis's eyes widened.
She stared blankly at Ivan's face before flinching and mumbling awkwardly.
That low, husky voice. And those neat, gently curved eyes.
He looks familiar.
She unconsciously raised her hand. Palm wide open, slowly.
Covering his bushy, attention-grabbing beard with her palm, peeking just enough to see his bridge of nose and eyes.
Through that space, Asidis's trembling eyes met Ivan's deep gaze.
"Could it be...? No, but. Uncle died..."
"Take care of your health."
Ivan, being an efficient person, didn't waste time indulging Asidis's sentimentality.
What this little one was thinking was a secondary concern. Wasn't there something more important at hand?
After all, she needed to prevent further absences to improve her dismal grades.
Ivan led Asidis to the orchestral department's main building ensemble room, then handed a lunchbox to the still dazed and muttering Asidis.
It was a snack box containing dried carrot chips.
"Take care of your health. Einar would be more concerned about your health than your studies. But that doesn't mean a student should neglect classes. You're late. Go in."
Ivan pushed the stammering Asidis into the string ensemble room and checked his watch.
By the time the ensemble class ends, Mord's lecture should also be over, so there would be no need to guard Asidis anymore.
It's going to get busy.
Ivan smiled faintly as he walked away. Now he just needed to guard Isabelle during the night hours before going home.
It was a day like any other.
On the third day of such ordinary days.
The idyllic days of a security guard who protected Asidis during the day and patrolled near Isabelle's house at night.
Ended with simultaneous massive explosions at the Pritzenkaya Central Bank, Satera Amphitheater, St. Yansk University, St. Chereta Cathedral, and the North-Pratzenko Central Police Headquarters.
That night, Pritzenkaya burned white.
Ivan walked slowly, conscious of the pistol in his pocket.
It was the third night, and he was patrolling in front of Isabelle's house.
"Hmm."
After circling her house three times, he realized he had encountered the same passerby for the third time.
At similar distances from Isabelle's house, but at different points.
'His center of gravity is shifted to the right. Right-handed, weapon on the left hip is a pistol, and judging by the bulge in his chest, he's wearing a bulletproof vest.'
Ivan casually passed by the passerby and shifted his gaze.
'The fact that he's wearing a bulletproof vest means he has no line-of-fire detection. This guy is a low-level operative.'
The suspicious man scanned the surroundings before disappearing back into the darkness of the street.
Slowly counting to ten, Ivan quietly closed his eyes.
Following a highly alert target directly from behind is amateur work. Trained agents never tail someone that way.
Magical energy swirled within Ivan's body. Slowly, with the sensation of pulling on nerve bundles like chains.
When he opened his eyes again, he had stepped into a time perception where falling leaves floated sluggishly.
-Inhale...
Slowly and deeply, he drew in a breath. His activated senses began to break down the scents in the air.
They say a mouse can identify all the animals on a mountainside from the winds that sweep across it. That's how animal olfaction typically works. A sense that far surpasses the density of olfactory epithelial cells in humans.
But a transcendent can come infinitely close to that. The ability to forcibly activate sensory organs themselves and analyze each awakened neural organ down to the smallest detail.
Not all transcendents can utilize this sense. It's not a matter of talent but of training. Most who awaken transcendent senses devote all their efforts to combat performance.
But not Ivan. He was more specialized in this field than in combat performance.
Or to be more precise.
He had honed his capabilities in this area to surpass any other transcendent.
Target tracking and assassination, small-scale combat, securing objective points, and disrupting enemy reconnaissance.
He was a man who prided himself on being unparalleled even among the carefully selected elite of what was called the United Kingdom's finest scout unit.
-Exhale...
Ivan slowly exhaled and moved forward.
Countless scents flowing on the urban winds that brushed between city buildings.
Extremely developed senses induce synesthesia. Ivan was now walking while observing the "threads of smell" that shone brightly in the darkness.
Slowly, without rushing.
Straight toward his prey.
Within Pritzenkaya, no one he had encountered even once could escape his senses.
Ivan walked with steady steps.
Like a snake lurking in darkness, relaxed until the target crawled into his heart.