The Irtysh Station was a rural station in southern Krasilov. There was a mine nearby, but it was insignificant and had been abandoned after being completely excavated during the war.
The surrounding estates were unremarkable rural villages that survived on trade, with Yelabinsk being the only notable estate in the area—and even that wasn't included on major trade routes.
In other words, it was literally a countryside train station that looked like it came straight out of a painting.
The platform had just two tracks—one for trains going up and one for trains going down. Beyond the ticket gate, a single drowsy station attendant nodded off in the waiting room. It was so remote that it would take at least 20 minutes by carriage to reach the nearest village.
"I'm honestly speechless."
Isabelle de Etoile stood on the platform, holding her forehead.
"All of you? Really? Seriously?"
"I'm already trying very hard to stay calm, so please be quiet."
"But there's something I don't understand."
Asidis Einarsdottir gripped her steel rod tightly as she looked around.
Isabelle, fine. They'd interacted a few times, so she was within the realm of understanding.
Elfihera? That elf girl must have done something again. Her kind uncle wouldn't associate with pointy-eared creatures like elves.
But what about Oskar?
"Having a man within the acceptable range is a bit much. At this point, I don't even know where to start fixing things..."
Isabelle quietly nodded. Fine, let's ignore that idiot.
"So this means your uncle didn't actually invite us for a vacation."
"That was obvious to me from the start."
Oskar de Satieon smiled subtly and pulled out an [Invitation] from his pocket. Isabelle gritted her teeth at the sight of the envelope.
This is really infuriating.
"Miss Isabelle, Miss Asidis, Miss Elfihera. Do you know what you all have in common?"
"Thieves?"
"...That's a rather original interpretation, but since I'm here, that can't be it. Wait, what exactly have you been doing to immediately think that... Never mind. Anyway."
Oskar quietly affirmed. Fine, let's ignore these idiots.
"You're all children of the Hero Party members! And this is a remote countryside location. Isn't it obvious when you look at it?"
"But Lucia isn't here?"
"What, is Lucia not included because she's a disciple rather than a daughter? Professor Enrique Sergeyevika is infertile and couldn't have children—that's too cruel!"
"I'm starting to be afraid of all of you."
Oskar lamented the cognitive disabilities of two of the four party members. Asidis being Einar's daughter was one thing, but what on earth had happened to Isabelle?
She was famous as a genius girl in the Tilles Kingdom palace.
Unless Krasilov had poisoned her to weaken an enemy nation's forces, this level of stupidity made no sense.
Fortunately, there was one more person among them who could communicate rationally. Not exactly someone he wanted to classify as a person, but at least an intelligent being capable of conversation.
Elfihera, who had been listening to Oskar's words, tilted her head and asked:
"So, are you saying Lord Yeremov gathered us here to assassinate us?"
"That's impossible. If that were his intention, he would have had much better opportunities."
How many attacks had recently occurred in Pritzenkaya? Civil unrest in a city inevitably creates security gaps.
If he had targeted them during such times, he could have handled it much more cleanly. For instance, during the field training attack, if Ivan hadn't stepped in, Oskar and Isabelle would certainly have died.
So killing wasn't the objective. Rather, this was...
"Perhaps he has something to show or teach only to us? That kind of summons? Lord Yeremov was an acquaintance of the Hero Party, a close friend of Professor Enrique, and someone who showed overwhelming performance in the tournament."
Isn't it common sense that if your father's friend is a knight, he would help with your training in a situation like this?
Hearing Oskar's words, Elfihera gave a sardonic smile.
"Humans are so cute."
"Pardon?"
"Let's say you're right. Then what about me? Lord Yeremov may be skilled with a sword, but is he also proficient in magic? What exactly could he teach me?"
If Ivan had been good at magic, he wouldn't have taken her to explore the underground ruins. And that means that she alone would be more suitable than everyone else here to compensate for Ivan's shortcomings.
As an enlightened elf, Elfihera didn't question why Oskar was here. Well, gender isn't necessarily important for sexual desire, is it? Neither is race or age. (The latter is more important.)
Therefore, this must be it.
He gathered humans who were interested in her, and because an elf is present, he's planning to politely reject them by saying they're not needed. Hehe, quite clever. How adorable.
Oskar read Elfihera's gaze and despaired.
No one is normal?
Not just one person is crazy, but everyone except one?
These are the successors to the Hero Party...?
Fortunately, Oskar's despair didn't last long. As the clock in the station waiting room began to strike exactly 5 PM, heavy footsteps were heard.
-Thud, thud, thud.
Elfihera's ears perked up. As everyone turned to look, a man was standing at the station entrance with the sun at his back.
"You've arrived on time."
"Uncle!"
Isabelle and Asidis shouted and ran toward Ivan. As they charged toward him as if about to draw swords, thump. A bag was thrown to each of them.
"Huh? What's this? It's really heavy!"
"Each of you carry one and follow me. I've packed what you'll need."
Ivan gestured toward a black carriage in front of the station. It had bulletproof plates attached, gun ports drilled through, and windows covered with wire mesh, looking exactly like a prisoner transport carriage.
"We're not being kidnapped or something, are we?"
"No."
Ivan nodded and gestured.
At his signal, the drowsy station attendant from the waiting room, a beggar begging in the corner, a merchant selling dried vegetables, and a farmer waiting for the next train all suddenly stood up.
In the moment of confusion, black cloths were spread over the students' heads.
With professional skill, the counterintelligence agents completed the perfect restraints in an instant and looked at Ivan with sparkling eyes.
"Excellent. Load them up."
"Yes, Captain!"
The agents, with faces flushed from the legendary agent's praise, picked up the students like bundles and threw them into the carriage.
Ivan entered the carriage where the students were stacked neatly and sat down in an empty seat, slowly reclining.
"Not something like kidnapping, but kidnapping itself."
"Uncle, have you really gone crazy? Are you going to untie this? I swear I'll kill you first when I get out!"
"Uncle, marriage by abduction is illegal in Droan. Let's talk about this."
"I told you I'm allergic to human hair!!"
Ivan ignored the squawking bundles and unfolded a map.
Soon the carriage departed.
How do you get students to train during their vacation?
Without status windows or quests for students, those with normal thinking patterns would never voluntarily participate in training during vacation.
Students don't inherently live to focus on academics. This is a "fact" that Ivan, who had lived his entire life as a student under the highly systematized education of the 21st century, knew all too well.
Unless there is "motivation" like avenging against a brother who became a rogue ninja, or an English demon horse allied with the government committing terrorism whenever it gets bored, students never participate in classes voluntarily.
Then what kind of "motivation" should be instilled in these peaceful college students to make them train, especially during vacation in a training camp?
It's not money. Isabelle, Asidis, Elfihera, and Oskar are all wealthy enough that their individual private assets could cover the annual operating costs of Ivan's orphanage.
Honor, wealth, goods, and rare artifacts are not "motivations" but "rewards" that should be given after completing trials. Motivation should be simpler and more intense.
Sergeant Kim Seon-woo, the number one motivation lecturer from Earth, already knew the answer.
The answer is "survival."
When one's vision is blocked, humans tend to easily lose their sense of time. The repetitive stimulation of the carriage traveling on rough routes, the sound of wind, the confusing sound of breathing, and the blocked vision make one forget the passage of time.
Therefore, Isabelle found it difficult to gauge how long she had been kidnapped and confined in the carriage.
"Uncle, I'm really not finding this funny anymore. I'm getting angry, you know?"
"We're here."
Ivan continued speaking as he scanned the scenery outside the window and the markings on the map.
"The backpacks I gave you contain simple food and camping supplies that will last for two days."
"This is absolutely ridiculous."
"And at the mountain lodge, located two days' journey from here, there are fully stocked food supplies and accommodation facilities."
Ivan swung an axe in his hand. He precisely cut the ropes binding the four people's hands and arms, then stood up.
"What if we just go back to the station!"
"That could be an option too."
With those final words, Ivan left the carriage. The four people, now unbound, threw off the cloths and jumped out of the carriage one after another.
The sun was already setting. Night comes earlier in the mountains than in other regions, so the surroundings were quickly darkening.
And the road the carriage must have traveled...
"Wow, really. I... I'm speechless. How should I... I want to kill your uncle."
"Is there anything I can help with?"
"Thanks for the kind words, Essie."
Burly men dressed in black were erasing the mountain path at the entrance.
Literally erasing it. They were so thorough that the mountain path, which must have been large enough for a carriage to pass through, was now covered with soil and fallen leaves, making it indistinguishable.
"What are you all doing there! You! I've seen you before! At headquarters! When I went to see your uncle!"
When Isabelle shouted, one of the men who had been focused on his work smiled brightly and waved, then instantly disappeared from sight.
"The horses?"
"Gone. They must have taken them."
"This is unbelievable."
He lured a girl 10 years younger than him (no, he didn't), abandoned her in a remote mountain (yes, he did), threw her a survival kit, and disappeared?
Isn't this guy completely insane? (That was an accurate assessment.)