"Nina, I'm not here to take anyone's life. Please calm down."
Cain stepped forward and helped the trembling Nina up from the ground with a faint smile.
"Didn't you come back to kill Gino?" Nina asked in confusion.
"Of course not. Gino didn't do anything outrageous to Master. We're just here for a visit. Our faction is recruiting right now, so you can join if you're interested."
Cain smiled and patted Nina's shoulder to reassure her, then led the others toward the Dojo as though he were coming home.
"Um, Lord Cain..." Nina pressed her lips together and called him to a halt, still worried. She was genuinely afraid that he might kill Gino if something upset him.
"Relax. Among the younger generation, you and Gino are the ones I know best. As your senior, I can at least be that magnanimous."
Nina's eyes flickered.
"Thank you, Lord Cain."
"Just call me Senior Cain like before. I rather liked the lively, adorable Nina who loved to joke around."
Cain teased her with a smile, spread his hands, and led the others into the Dojo.
"Yes... thank you, Senior Cain..." Nina's lips curved slightly, and she bowed deeply.
"Who are you people?! How dare you barge into the Dojo! Get out right now! Aagh!"
The moment they opened the Dojo's door, a swordsman in white training clothes stormed toward them.
But before he could reach them, Cain's knife-hand flashed at the speed of light. The swordsman's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed with a thud, going silent.
Cain stepped over the man's prone body and entered the room. Looking at the stunned swordsmanship students, he rolled his shoulders a couple of times and clicked his tongue.
"Hey, you. Don't block the way. And that's my room over there, isn't it? Why