Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: Union Quest (2)
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Not only Yuri's group had their attention stolen by the appearance of the 48th Cohort.
Everyone present felt the same.
49th Cohort and 50th Cohort.
Around two hundred pairs of eyes turned toward the 48th Cohort.
A tense silence descended over the wide open space.
Unlike the 49th Cohort, whom they often ran into due to overlapping residential areas, the 50th Cohort was meeting seniors two cohorts ahead for the first time and was on edge.
The 49th Cohort knew better than anyone what status the current 48th Cohort held in the Cradle, so they couldn't help but tense up.
The tension in the air grew thicker as the 48th Cohort drew closer.
In particular, the 49th Cohort's gazes were practically fixed on the one leading the 48th Cohort.
A young man leading over a hundred people with such natural ease it seemed obvious.
A handsome man with sharp features and thick golden blond hair cropped short.
Someone murmured a name softly as he approached with an expressionless face.
"Kunter Rider..."
It was a mutter like the groan of someone facing a massive wall.
No, to the 49th Cohort, the name Kunter Rider truly was that.
A wall named Kunter Rider that they couldn't dream of surpassing, growing ever larger and casting a huge shadow.
The 49th Cohort saw an illusion of that dark shadow slowly swallowing them as Kunter approached.
To that extent, the 49th Cohort was overwhelmingly crushed by Kunter's presence.
And Theresia was no different.
No, she felt an even stronger pressure than the others.
'Kunter... Rider.'
The surname Rider he bore.
And the overwhelming talent he'd shown against the 49th Cohort.
Though she'd been acting strong all this time, from the moment she'd taken the lead of the 49th Cohort and set Kunter as her goal, Theresia hadn't been free from his presence.
Theresia had thought this bondage would end only when Kunter graduated from the Cradle.
Until she met another genius, that is.
'Yuri...'
A possessor of brilliant talent that wouldn't fall short of Kunter.
No, Yuri, who might even surpass Kunter, was by Theresia's side.
He had become her new goal.
Thanks to that, Theresia had escaped Kunter's presence.
'Kunter and Yuri...'
Both were people with overwhelming talent that was hard for her to catch up to.
But targeting Kunter and targeting Yuri felt completely opposite.
If Kunter's presence bound her with heavy pressure, Yuri's presence...
'...seemed to lead me.'
Theresia herself didn't know what created that difference.
'If I compare the two up close, maybe I'll understand?'
As if he'd noticed her thinking that.
Kunter's steps, leading the 48th Cohort, came to an abrupt halt.
The direction of his gaze.
Standing right in that line of sight was none other than Yuri.
"......"
Kunter, standing at 190 cm.
"......"
Yuri, who hadn't yet reached 180 cm.
With about 5 meters between them, their gazes met.
A strange atmosphere hung between the two.
It was an atmosphere as if they knew each other without introductions.
And that was exactly the case.
Even seeing him with his hair cut for the first time, Kunter recognized him as Yuri Holland.
Yuri recognized the blond cropped-head as Kunter Rider, who held the record for first place in the organ breakthrough quest before him.
The two instantly recognized each other's identities.
As if it were fate.
"......"
"......"
Their gazes clashed in the air for a long while.
Yuri's eyebrow twitched faintly.
'Hah?'
That gaze looking slightly down at him due to the height difference.
The indifference in it irked Yuri.
'Those black eyes...'
They reminded him of the Sword Lord during the Hundred Paces Ritual, seated high on his throne looking down.
The boredom of a life without rivals for so long.
Eyes full of that languid tedium, as if soaked in it.
Kunter's black eyes superficially resembled the Sword Lord's.
Yuri inwardly curled his lip in annoyed scorn.
'The little punk's fallen flat imitating the Sword Lord without even earning it.'
Did he think he was the Sword Lord just because he shared the Rider surname?
Or did leading a bunch of mediocrities make him delusionally think he had no equals?
Whichever of Yuri's two assumptions was right.
Or even if both were just Yuri's misunderstandings.
One thing was certain: he really didn't like that Sword Lord's brat's gaze right now.
Perhaps because of that, the scorn he'd held inside surfaced on Yuri's face.
A smirk-.
One corner of his mouth twisted up slightly.
Noticing that minute change, a flicker of anger rose in Kunter's eyes.
But only for a moment.
Step-.
Kunter scattered the emotion in an instant and resumed his halted steps.
Step- step-.
He turned direction, leading the 48th Cohort toward the right side of the 49th Cohort.
As the 48th Cohort moved away, the group, who had been holding their breath during Yuri and Kunter's strange staring contest, let out small sighs.
At that moment, Yuri whipped his head toward Gunter.
Yuri glared at Gunter with a highly displeased expression and growled.
"You're so annoying."
"......?"
Truly caught off guard by the sudden cursing, Gunter could only float a question mark over his head.
At the same time, Yuri's irritated voice continued.
"Figures guys with similar names like Gunter and Kunter give off similar vibes."
"......"
"Ugh, both equally annoying."
"......"
...This bastard?
Gunter had become the punching bag instead of Kunter just because their names were similar.
His fists trembled with rage.
* * *
Gunter clenched his fist as if ready to swing at any moment.
But his fist never swung.
"Line up!"
A short shout rang out loudly.
With it, more Black Sword soldiers appeared than usual.
The glasses-wearing man in charge of the 50th Cohort.
The bob-haired woman in charge of the 49th Cohort.
And a square-jawed man who appeared to be in charge of the 48th Cohort.
It looked like all the Black Sword soldiers responsible for each cohort had turned out in full force.
They lined up in a row like a wall.
Soon, the figure emerging from between the human barrier was someone Yuri knew well.
It was the canteen auntie Coco, appearing today as always with a cigarette in her mouth.
Hoo-.
Pale smoke rose into the sky.
Coco, hands behind her back, looked at the cohorts standing there and spoke in a slightly irritated tone.
"I really hate summer. My delicate skin is just too vulnerable to the sunlight. I'd love to duck into the shade right now. So, don't interrupt me or make me explain twice, or else... I might just kill you."
Sure enough, her face was thick with displeasure, as if she truly hated summer.
She exhaled the cigarette smoke she'd drawn deep into her lungs and continued.
"The theme of this union quest for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years is territorial conquest. Before the main explanation..."
Snap-.
Coco lightly snapped her fingers, and the Black Sword soldiers who'd formed the human barrier lined up single file behind her.
With that, two Black Sword soldiers holding white and blue flags took positions to her left and right.
Once preparations were complete, Coco waved her hand lightly.
"First, let's divide into teams. Come forward in the order I call and go to either the Blue Army or White Army, whichever you prefer. With all of you together making exactly 300, it should be Blue Army 150 versus White Army 150, right?"
Coco added an explanation.
"Note that once one side reaches 150, everyone remaining goes to the opposite side."
For example, if the 200th person called made the White Army reach 150, the uncalled people would automatically go to the Blue Army without choice.
"And once you choose, no changing sides, obviously? Oh! Actually, if you can get past those guys to the other side... I'll let you switch as much as you want."
Saying that, Coco jabbed her thumb back at the Black Sword soldiers lined up behind her.
Only then did the cohorts realize those Black Sword soldiers behind Coco were the barrier dividing Blue and White Armies.
Finishing her brief explanation, Coco.
She took the roster from the glasses man and began calling names.
"Let's see, first up... 48th Cohort, Kunter Rider!"
From the very first call being Kunter's name, a ripple of interest passed through the crowd's eyes.
At the same time, everyone's attention focused on Kunter's every move.
'In a territorial conquest of 150 versus 150, who you're teamed with is the most important.'
That 'who' should ideally be someone exceptionally skilled, and no one fit that better than Kunter, no matter what anyone said.
'To win this quest, we need to be on Kunter Rider's side!'
Amid all the focused gazes.
Step step-.
Kunter stepped forward and entered the nearest Blue Army camp.
Confirming that, Coco called the next name.
"49th Cohort, Theresia Winchester!"
Not a 3rd year, and suddenly her own name called, Theresia showed a slightly puzzled look.
But only briefly.
She glanced at Kunter in the Blue Army and entered the White Army camp without much hesitation.
A slight murmur arose at Theresia's choice.
That murmur vanished as if washed away by the cold killing intent emanating from Coco.
Silencing the crowd instantly, Coco turned back to the roster.
Checking the third name, Coco called out in a somewhat leisurely tone.
"50th Cohort, Yuu......"
By the time the name came that far, Yuri had already slipped into the White Army camp.
As if he'd anticipated his name being called.
A bold move, as if he'd decided his path long ago with no need for deliberation.
"...ri Holland!"
Finishing the call, Coco smirked and said.
"See that? Do the same from now on. Decide ahead of time, act fast!"
Then she called the fourth name.
"Goetz......!"
Before the full name, a man with purple hair fluttering jumped into the White Army camp.
"...Roeten!"
From there, Coco rapidly continued the calls.
Meanwhile, Yuri and Theresia.
"Nice to see yooou twooo!"
Seeing Goetz running over waving his hand, they froze solid.
"...Damn, should I switch sides?"
"I'll go with you..."
The two began seriously pondering with grave faces.
* * *
The calls proceeded quickly.
From this, the cohorts could precisely grasp the order.
'This... it's by rank?'
'Calling 48th, 49th, 50th Cohorts in rank order!'
That was why 48th Cohort rank 1 Kunter, 49th Cohort rank 1 Theresia, 50th Cohort rank 1 Yuri, 48th Cohort rank 2 Goetz had been called in sequence.
At the same time, everyone watched with wide eyes to see where the top ranks being called went.
But there was no need.
By the time ranks 1 through 10 from each cohort had been called.
In the White Army stood Yuri, Theresia, Arin, Poppy, Gunter, and Goetz—a total of 6.
The Blue Army had 24.
At that overwhelming numerical gap, the faces of those not yet called hardened.
'No matter what, isn't it too much for everyone to pile onto one side?!'
'Damn, what if the Blue Army fills up before my turn?'
'Black Sword soldiers, aren't they going to do anything about this?! How is this even a quest?'
The remaining people hoped the Black Sword soldiers would balance this unfair and unequal team division.
But the Black Sword soldiers made no intervention whatsoever.
Finally, when top rank 60 had been called.
Click-.
The last girl called joined the Blue Army, and the Black Sword soldier holding the blue flag laid the pole horizontally.
As if refusing any further entry.
Everyone knew what that meant.
From those whose names hadn't been called yet came irritated voices.
"Hah, damn... it's over."
"...Heartless bastards."
The gloomy gazes of those who hadn't even gotten to choose turned toward.
Beyond the blue flag, on the wide open space, 150 out of the 180 previously called swarmed.