Chapter 107
Chapter 107
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Squandering (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Those gathered around Gunter.
Birds of a feather flock together, and every single one of them held at least a Gold Dragon Medallion or a White Dragon Medallion.
That meant they had all entered on the recommendation of a Dragon Medallion holder, and it also meant they had heard similar stories before taking the verification trial.
[There are five kinds of Dragon Medallions.]
That was the extent of the information permitted to those taking the verification trial.
Or rather, countless people didn't even hear that much.
But some had picked up a bit more through word of mouth, from family members or their Dragon Medallion recommenders.
The shocked riders were exactly those who had gleaned such information.
Doubt immediately flickered in their eyes.
"...Black Dragon Medallion holder?"
"Is it talking about the Black Dragon Medallion? That thing actually exists?"
At the question, many nodded in agreement as they stared at Gunter.
Meanwhile, Pana, who hadn't heard any such information, tilted her head.
"What's a Black Dragon Medallion? Is there one like that among the Dragon Medallions?"
Nelli provided the answer.
"There's a rumor that there's a Dragon Medallion rank above the White Dragon Medallion. That's the Black Dragon Medallion."
"A rank above the White Dragon Medallion?"
"Yeah, but it's so rare that almost no one's actually seen one, so it's just a rumor...."
"It's not a rumor."
Gunter cut off Nelli's words.
He shook his head.
"The Black Dragon Medallion isn't some mere rumor. I've seen it myself. I saw Yuri Holland take the verification trial, and I saw him receive the Black Dragon Medallion right there."
"You saw that? How?"
"Because he and I took the verification trial in the same place."
"Oh...."
"Yuri Holland was one year ago...."
Gunter trailed off, and his eyes widened in shock.
'One year ago?'
In Gunter's mind flashed the image of Yuri from a year ago, barely able to hold a sword properly and staggering around.
It was clearly a body that hadn't even undergone basic training, let alone mastery of martial arts.
At the time, Yuri Holland hadn't seemed particularly threatening, aside from his incarnation trait.
'...He definitely was like that.'
Next came the memory of Yuri on the black ship heading to Yuram mainland, shoving the freckled boy into the sea.
[I don't think this is working out. Go wash up or something.]
Yuri's movements back then had been incredibly fast.
Fast enough that Gunter, who had been watching, lost track of them for a moment.
And Yuri had even demonstrated enough strength to instantly subdue a rider who had passed the medallion gauntlet.
But that wasn't the end of it.
[If you want to pick a fight, be prepared to get wrecked just as bad. Consider this a warning for today.]
Even the chilling, intense aura Yuri had exuded just moments ago while issuing that warning.
It was a change so profound it felt like a completely different person.
Recalling all of it, Gunter muttered to himself.
"In just... one year?"
Gunter stared wide-eyed in the direction where Yuri had disappeared.
* * *
"You know him?"
It was Arin, who had followed Yuri, who asked.
Yuri answered as he kept walking without stopping.
"Huh?"
"That guy earlier? He looked like he knew you pretty well. You two acquainted?"
"Hmm...."
Yuri stroked his chin.
He had been puzzled by Gunter's reaction himself.
'Gunter, huh... who is that?'
At first he hadn't recognized him, but upon reflection, it felt like a face he'd seen somewhere before.
Not when he fought Theresia.
Not when they argued on the black ship.
It was much earlier than that—he remembered seeing Gunter before.
'Gunter Irons... Gunter Irons... Wait, Irons?'
A glint flashed in Yuri's eyes.
'Ah, that guy.'
The Irons territory, where he had stayed for quite a while.
The lord's son who had taken Yuram's verification trial before him when he first met Johan.
That was Gunter.
He had grown a lot taller since then, but it was definitely him.
Yuri snorted at Arin's words, as if he knew her well.
"Know him my ass. I just glimpsed his face once ages ago. Never even exchanged words."
"Really? Then why was he staring at you like that? I thought you were long-lost brothers reuniting or something."
"I'm hungry."
Poppi nodded at Arin's words.
Yuri scowled sharply.
But he couldn't exactly deny it.
Even to him, Gunter's gaze had seemed like it carried some kind of backstory.
"I don't know, you two."
Yuri, unaware of the competitive spirit Gunter harbored toward him, was simply baffled.
Then he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Arin and Poppi following behind.
"Anyway, you lowly number twos."
"...Can you not say that?"
"If it bothers you, become number one."
"Ughhh...."
"Anyway, where are you guys headed?"
"Where else? Wherever you're going."
"Oh, so you're following me?"
"Yeah!"
"I'm hungry!"
Yuri posed a primal question to the two nodding vigorously.
"Why?"
"To keep an eye on whether you're properly securing our place to stay."
"I'm hungry!"
Yuri flinched slightly at their words.
Truth be told, he had completely forgotten about finding them lodging.
Arin and Poppi's eyes narrowed as they noticed Yuri's reaction.
"Did he just flinch?"
"I'm hungry."
Nod nod-.
"Right? He totally forgot, didn't he?"
"I'm hungry."
Nod nod-.
"See? It wasn't just handing over points back then. We were supposed to get actual accommodations."
"I'm hungry."
Nod nod-.
Under their increasingly narrowed gazes, Yuri forced a calm smile.
"Forgot? Of course I remembered."
"Really?"
"Yeah! So, since it came up, what kind of place do you want?"
"...Asking that now means you haven't even looked yet, right?"
"Yes, correct. I forgot. Sorry. What are you gonna do about it?"
"Wow, look at this shameless guy."
"So, you gonna tell me or not? What kind of place would you like?"
Arin made a dumbfounded face at his curt tone.
She shot her hand up high.
"Me! I want a high place! I like high places!"
"Hmm... a high place. Got it! Poppi?"
"I'm hungry."
Yuri looked at Arin.
"She says anywhere's fine."
"I'm hungry."
"As long as it shelters from the rain and wind, she's good."
Yuri nodded at Arin's interpretation.
'A high place, and anywhere's fine....'
At first he hadn't thought much of it, but the moment he heard Arin and Poppi speak, a plan popped into his head.
Soon, Yuri's expression turned serious.
'Can I trust these two?'
Honestly, he wasn't sure.
His trust in them hadn't reached 100% yet.
Yuri stared at Arin and Poppi.
At the same time, recent events came to mind.
How they had cooperated with him in the Forest of Beasts.
And how they had casually returned tens of millions of points.
With that, Yuri felt convinced.
'I can't say 100% trust, but they're not the type to eat someone in their sleep.'
Only someone who's eaten human flesh would know.
To Yuri, those two were definitely not that type.
He waved his hand lightly.
"For now, let's split up here. I have some stuff to check out."
Then Yuri vanished—whoosh.
Arin and Poppi had been staring blankly at him, overwhelmed by Yuri's suddenly serious demeanor.
When he waved and left, they realized too late, but he was already gone without a trace.
Having lost Yuri once again, the two muttered dejectedly.
"Did we... get ditched again?"
"I'm hungry...."
Their forlorn voices hung low.
Meanwhile, Yuri, having shaken off Arin and Poppi, returned to the rift.
He didn't enter but stood lost in thought.
'This rift really is the perfect hideout.'
The rift's structure was highly advantageous against external intrusions.
But there was one issue.
Namely, emerging from the rift left you vulnerable to attacks.
Thinking of that, Yuri scanned his surroundings.
First, the treetops towering high around the rift.
"An archer who likes high places."
Next, his gaze fell on the open clearing near the rift.
"A shieldbearer who said anywhere's fine."
As he muttered, flesh began to form on the skeletal plan that had first occurred to him.
"...Plus a swordsman and a spearman."
Yuri stroked his chin.
'3rd, 4th, and 5th-years all move to residential areas, but it's not a strict rule.'
That was information from Theresia.
According to her, the reason 3rd, 4th, and 5th-years went to those residential areas was the meals and conveniences provided there.
'Which means if you improve the conveniences a bit, you can stay put once you've settled somewhere....'
Moreover, if it was the safest place, there was no need to move to a residential area even after advancing in years.
'Then instead of just roughly staying for 1 or 2 years before leaving... why not build it properly?'
What if he created the safest spot in all of Yuram, one even the black sword soldiers couldn't touch?
It would be a place where he could relax with peace of mind.
'My home....'
No, actually, what came to Yuri's mind wasn't just a simple house.
It was practically a small fortress.
'First... I need to get approval for this.'
He wasn't the only one living in this rift right now.
Someone had claimed the territory before him.
Yuri entered the rift to seek her approval.
Theresia was, as always, diligently training.
Yuri briefly explained his plan to her.
He was going to do some construction centered around this rift.
And bring in other people too.
Was that okay?
Having heard it all, Theresia fired back a question of her own.
"The people you're bringing? Can you trust them? Otherwise, you'd just be exposing this place to danger."
Yuri answered flatly.
"Not a perfect trust, but in my eyes, they're not the type to eat someone in their sleep. Their personalities are a bit quirky, though."
"Then it's fine. Do what you want."
"...That's it?"
"What, you want me to grit my teeth and oppose it?"
"No, it's not that. It's just weird how easily you're allowing it."
"You're not the type to easily trust others. If even you brought them, you must've vetted them thoroughly."
"......?!"
"And if 'not the type to eat someone in their sleep' comes out of your mouth, it just means you've concluded they're trustworthy."
"...Guess we've gotten pretty close. You read me that well."
"I'm putting in the effort to stick a spear through you, so yeah, I'm learning."
"Then you pretty much know everything?"
"Is that how it is?"
"It is. Anyway, that's a yes?"
"Yeah."
The two wrapped up their chat with some light banter.
And this... would later become the starting point for the small fortress known as the "Demon King's Castle."
* * *
That night.
February 1st, five minutes before midnight.
"Hope you snag some good stuff."
"You too."
Yuri and Theresia, exiting the rift together, parted ways at the fork inside the north gate.
Theresia headed right, toward the 2nd-year special shop.
Yuri went left, to the 1st-year special shop.
Parting from Theresia and walking his solitary path, Yuri's face was grim with resolve.
'Finally... the day has come.'
The day he had so desperately longed for.
The day his once-impossible dream would come true.
Yuri walked the corridor with tense steps.
And at last.
Clunk-.
He opened the door to what had once been the special discount shop but was now the special shop.
Creak-.
Beyond the wide-open door.
A soft crimson glow and pure white hookah smoke welcomed Yuri.
Realizing he had come to the right place, Yuri stepped forward.
Step step-.
The room was spacious, but since Yuri was the only customer, his footsteps echoed especially loudly.
Step step-.
Yuri strode confidently to the display case he remembered from before.
"Huh?"
Coco blinked.
At the same time, Yuri reached out and cleared his throat.
"Ahem."
This was preparation for fulfilling Yuri's small dream.
'Finally!'
Something he had always wanted to say since being born human, but always kept inside due to poverty!
Today, he would finally utter it.
"Miss Coco."
Calling out to Coco, Yuri's expression turned haughty and aloof.
Snap-.
His raised arm went limp, wrist bending into an L-shape.
And with his index finger sticking out alone, pointing at the display case.
A snooty voice flowed from Yuri.
"Everything from here to here. I'll take it all."
The tip of his index finger glided smoothly from the left side of the display case to the far right.