Meanwhile, Anya-the one Twilight and the handler had said they would cultivate-was facing a crisis.
Everyone knew that the families of Eden Academy students were either rich or influential, so numerous kidnappings occurred every year. Some criminals were even brazen enough to strike near the school.
Karen had been hired to deal with people like these.
Because this happened so often, most Eden Academy students avoided wearing their uniforms outside school.
But who was Anya? With her personality, how could she possibly resist showing off a little?!
At that moment, she was walking down the street in her brand-new Eden Academy uniform, head held high and chest puffed out, her face brimming with pride as she greeted everyone she saw.
And so disaster struck: four teenage delinquents set their sights on her. They followed behind Anya, their eyes filled with ill intent.
The ones truly headed for disaster, however, weren't Anya, but those four delinquents... After all, Anya had an ace fighter at her side.
Carrying the groceries she had just bought, Yor was looking for Anya outside when a faint cry suddenly reached her ears.
She looked toward the sound and saw several teenage delinquents holding Anya captive. They were even trying to strip off her clothes to sell them.
Yor's eyes instantly turned ice-cold, and the air around her seemed to freeze.
"What-are you doing?!" she shouted. Her plastic grocery bag hit the ground with a smack, sending vegetables rolling everywhere.
She charged over and mercilessly knocked one of the delinquents unconscious with a single punch.
The delinquent crashed to the ground, his eyes unfocused. She had probably given him a concussion.
Another delinquent glanced at his fallen companion, his eyes showing not a trace of concern, only greed for money.
"Oh dear, now you'll have to cover his medical bills too. Hand over your wallet, nanny."
Yor clenched her fists, struggling to suppress the fury churning inside her.
They were downtown, with people coming and going. She kept reminding herself that she couldn't kill anyone in front of so many witnesses.
Learn to be patient. You're an elite assassin.
Yor took out her wallet and said coldly, "I've spent all the money in here. There's nothing left, so please leave."
"Really? Then take off the little lady's clothes to cover the debt. As for you... you're getting fired anyway, so hurry up and crawl back to the countryside, you lousy nanny!" The delinquent picked up the pumpkin that had fallen to the ground and hurled it at Yor.
Yor pressed her fingers together and drove her hand straight through the pumpkin at lightning speed.
Shattered pumpkin flesh and seeds splattered everywhere, scattering across the ground.
The sight instantly left the remaining three delinquents drenched in cold sweat. "Are you kidding me? She smashed a pumpkin with her bare hand."
"And she didn't even use her fist! She drove her fingers straight through it!"
They whispered to one another in terror, every hair on their bodies standing on end.
Fury blazed in Yor's eyes as she roared at them, "I'm her mother!!! If you don't want to end up like that pumpkin, get out of here!!!"
The delinquents frantically grabbed their fallen companion and fled, shouting "Witch!" as they ran. They soon vanished at the end of the street.
Anya stared straight at Yor, her eyes sparkling with admiration. Her mother had been so cool just now. An assassin through and through!
"Mama..." she called softly.
Yor hurriedly pulled Anya into a tight embrace. She was relieved that little Miss Anya was safe, but she was also filled with guilt. It was all her fault for not keeping a closer eye on her.
"Are you all right? It's my fault for not taking better care of you... And now the groceries are ruined too. I'm such a useless mother!"
In her desperation to save her daughter, she had scattered the vegetables she had bought all over the ground, leaving a complete mess. Only a few carrots and potatoes were still intact.
Seeing Yor blame herself, Anya reached out with her tiny hand and gently patted Yor's forehead. "It's okay, it's okay. Anya likes a strong, cool Mama."
Then Anya imitated the move Yor had used to rescue her, throwing a hard punch to the side. "Killer punch! Bam, bam!"
Watching Anya, Yor flushed as red as a ripe tomato, frantically waving both hands.
Just then, a thunderous boom came from behind them.
Yor reflexively pulled Anya into her arms and clenched her other hand into a fist, looking warily toward the sound.
Two of the four delinquents she had just chased away were running back toward them in a panic.
Are they coming back for revenge? Then I'll finish them off right here!
A flicker of murderous intent crossed Yor's mind.
But when the two delinquents saw her, their already pale faces drained of even more color.
A wolf ahead and a tiger behind-what were they supposed to do?
They looked around frantically, then had no choice but to run toward the flower bed.
But the moment they lifted their feet, a block-shaped object landed in front of them with a thud, its tremendous impact blasting a large crater into the ground.
A figure slowly emerged behind them.
"Heh heh heh heh. Let's see where you can run. Go on, keep running."
Karen's voice was low and icy. To the delinquents, it sounded like the voice of a demon.
The two delinquents could only cling tightly to each other in terror, their faces deathly pale as they watched Karen approach.
They cried out in fear, "N-no, don't kill us!"
Karen had just "taken care of" one of their companions right in front of them, splattering red "blood" everywhere.
Karen looked puzzled. Was he really that terrifying? He was handsome and dashing, standing there with both hands in his pockets and brimming with confidence.
All he had done was casually pick up a cherry tomato and knock someone out with it, yet they were accusing him of murder.
He was an elegant teacher of noble character. Weren't they slandering his good name without any grounds?
"Mr. Karen?" Yor called uncertainly after getting a clear look at his face.
He looked like the same person, but his demeanor was off. He seemed to radiate the aura of an anime villain, completely unlike the way he had been during the entrance exam.
"Oh, it's Mrs. Forger and Anya. Just wait a moment. I'll deal with these two pieces of trash in no time." Karen greeted them warmly, then took a few peanuts out of his pocket.
With a light flick of his hand, two peanuts struck the delinquents with perfect accuracy. Their eyes rolled back, and they collapsed to the ground.
Karen blew out a breath with an ostentatious flourish. "Root out all evil..."
...Something's not right. I think I'm the evil one here... Whatever. At least I'm handsome and look like a good guy.
Before you continue