Chapter 238
Chapter 238
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 238
Chapter Title: Side Effects (2)
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Black Sword Troopers' barracks.
The bespectacled man glanced up from his paperwork.
His gaze drifted toward the Hellish Training Grounds.
"They're probably getting started by now."
Muttering to himself, he pushed up his glasses as he recalled Yuri's demand.
It had been quite unexpected.
[My condition? Nothing much. Just hand over the 51st Batch's training when they enter the Hellish Training Grounds to me. Oh, and if you could snag me a red hat, I'd appreciate it.]
Training to drill discipline and order into the 51st Batch.
Yuri had demanded to take over what was originally the Black Sword Troopers' job.
And he'd slashed a whopping three million points for it.
When asked why he wanted it, he'd flashed a truly wicked grin.
[Maknae training? And it just seems like it'd be fun.]
The second part was probably his real motive.
Taking on the 51st Batch's training just for kicks.
Normally, he wouldn't have approved.
But since he'd already handed off the tiger role to Yuri in place of the Black Sword Troopers, refusing this would've been on shaky ground.
'Plus, we're short-staffed enough that we'd borrow a cat's paw anyway, so I approved...'
Still, it nagged at him a bit—entrusting new recruits' training to someone just one cohort ahead.
Even if there were other Black Sword Troopers assigned to the Hellish Training Grounds.
After a moment's thought, the bespectacled man rose from his seat.
"...Guess I'll go check."
He was curious if the guy was doing okay.
And what the hell he needed a red hat for.
With that, the bespectacled man left the barracks and hurried toward the Hellish Training Grounds.
* * *
Gunter emerged with the light at his back.
Muchi's eyes widened in shock as he recognized him.
'G-Gunter senior?'
As the Demon King's Castle maknae, Muchi had a few direct seniors.
The calm and pretty Theresia senior.
The lively and pretty Arin senior.
The weirdly friendly Poppi senior.
They all doted on Muchi, making it easy to get close.
But there was one senior Muchi still couldn't warm up to.
Gunter Irons.
'Why's that senior here?'
Gunter wasn't mad or anything.
It was just that facing his rigidly disciplined, emotionless gaze made Muchi shrink in a weird way.
Like his legs went weak on their own.
That's why Muchi found Gunter even harder to approach than Yuri.
'Gunter senior acts more relaxed around the other seniors...'
No, actually, it felt like the other seniors just teased Gunter one-sidedly.
So Muchi had felt down, thinking maybe Gunter was only stiff with him.
But then he heard the rumors about Gunter among his cohort, and realized that wasn't it.
The Iron-Blooded Young Noble who appeared in the Forest of Beginnings.
The culprit who'd taken down countless 51st Batch members, halving their numbers.
That was Gunter Irons.
Hearing that, Muchi knew for sure Gunter wasn't singling him out.
'The other seniors just tease Gunter senior so casually...'
What was impressive was how the other seniors ragged on someone with that aura like it was nothing.
As Muchi eyed Gunter awkwardly,
Gunter's gaze grew even chillier as he looked at the still-dazed juniors.
"Best to get up now while I'm asking nicely."
His cold voice, laced with faint killing intent, echoed through the barracks.
The 51st Batch, already starting to come to their senses, jolted fully awake at the menace stabbing their eardrums.
"Hup?!"
"Wh-what?!"
Like dumping cold water on sleeping faces, they woke one by one in a panic.
Spotting Gunter at the source of the intent, they paled in horror.
"Kek?! Iron-Blood Ghost!"
"What? That's the Iron-Blood Ghost?!"
Gunter even had a nickname among the 51st Batch—some freaked out at the sight of him.
The commotion spread, waking the rest in a chain reaction.
Soon, all 51st Batch were on their feet. Gunter swept his gaze over them, stepped forward a few paces, and spoke.
"I'm counting to ten starting now. Anyone still here by then disobeys me... and will pay the price."
Srrrng—slash—.
With emotionless eyes, he drew his sword and stabbed it into the ground.
The 51st Batch could only exchange bewildered glances, clueless about what was happening.
What the hell was going on?
What was even turning?
They looked to each other for answers.
But Gunter gave them no time to figure it out.
"Ten."
"Huh?"
"Nine."
"...What?"
"Eight."
"......?!"
His crisp countdown sent chills racing up their spines.
The killing intent thickened with each number.
It clearly signaled that sticking around meant serious trouble.
"I-I'm out!"
"I'm going!"
Those who knew how Gunter had rampaged in the Forest of Beginnings bolted first.
Once a few fled, the rest didn't overthink it—they just scrambled outside.
"Five."
"Uwaaak!"
"Four."
By the time Gunter hit four, the barracks were empty.
* * *
"What the hell's with that senior?!"
"Why's he doing this to us!"
Flustered and confused,
The 51st Batch who'd fled Gunter in a herd.
Waiting to greet them: one guy, one girl.
"Hungry!"
"Come on, fresh meat bursting from the barracks? Follow this senior!"
A blue-haired beauty and a bald giant.
They waved wildly at the 51st Batch.
Muchi lit up at the sight.
'Arin senior? Poppi senior?'
The 51st Batch paused at the sight of more red-epaulet wearers.
Most thought, 'Who the hell are these people?' with annoyed glares of 'Why should we listen?'
But then.
Flutter—.
"What's this commotion here?"
Gunter appeared behind them again, forcing the herd to surge toward the two up front.
Their destination: a barracks labeled [Tribunal].
"Come on, in you go! In!"
"Hungry!"
Urged by Arin and Poppi, the 51st Batch filed into the Tribunal.
A short while later.
"Ah......"
"What the......"
"Damn it......"
Emerging from the Tribunal with group sentences of basic eight-hour hellish training punishments.
Not only stripped of every scrap of leather they'd scraped together, but now saddled with penalties, they stared blankly at the sky.
And that was their last moment of leisure.
"Everyone assembled?"
Yet another figure greeted them as they exited the Tribunal.
Muchi's eyes sparkled at her.
'Teresia senior!'
It was none other than Theresia.
Muchi recognized her and beamed happily, but soon flinched.
'Sc-scary.'
The Theresia before him wasn't the senior he knew.
If usual Theresia was calm and gentle...
'C-cold......'
This one was calm, but icy.
"Hup!"
"Th-that's a 49th Batch senior?"
An aura colder than a northern blizzard.
Sharper than Gunter, piercing straight to the heart.
The 51st Batch shrank involuntarily, swallowing dryly.
Theresia glared at them coolly, then turned.
"All here? Follow me."
Enchanted by her beautiful voice, the 51st Batch trailed after the walking Theresia.
After about twenty meters?
'What... is that smell?'
'Unpleasant......'
Arriving at a wide clearing ringed by barbed wire, they caught a foul stench.
Thick with blood and sweat.
The sharp ones realized it rose from the very ground they trod.
Most wrinkled their noses as they advanced to the end, where a wide platform awaited.
A black-haired boy stood there, hands behind his back.
Over half the 51st Batch recognized him instantly.
"Huh, that guy?!"
"The Tiger?"
More than half had been knocked out by the Tiger last night.
So even without the tiger-print vest now, spotting his face was no surprise.
Those who looked closer were shocked again.
"The Tiger... is 50th Batch?!"
The red epaulet hidden by his vest yesterday.
The Tiger showing up out of nowhere was shocking enough, but him being just one cohort ahead stunned them more.
Yuri scowled at the stares aimed his way and barked again.
"You dimwits still haven't snapped out of it!"
The sudden command made the clueless 51st Batch flinch.
As they panicked, Yuri laced his voice with killing intent.
"Can't even stand in a straight line, you lot? You think this is a playground?!"
"Huh?"
"Form up in five rows, now!"
Yuri's head tilted sharply in disapproval.
The huddled 51st Batch glanced nervously and shuffled into lines.
Muchi was among them.
Seeing Yuri's face brought back last night's memories, twisting his lips into a bitter smile.
'Yuri hyung......'
The overwhelming defeat last night.
A pitiful fight that made their year's efforts feel futile.
'He's... insanely strong.'
He'd half-expected it.
That he couldn't match Yuri.
That's why he'd hesitated to fight him.
But facing the result still filled him with despair.
As Muchi sighed softly, Yuri sighed too, clicking his tongue.
"Haaah, when will I whip these worthless idiots into shape. Tsk tsk."
"......"
"But don't worry too much. Back in the day, they called me the Human Remaker. You're lucky to be under me. Over these seven days here... you'll be reborn as new beings!"
His voice—not loud, but carrying—drew unpleasant looks from the 51st Batch.
Yuri smirked at that.
"Oh? Feeling offended?"
"......"
"What're you gonna do about it, you weaklings with egos too big for your britches."
"Senior, your words seem a bit... harsh?"
"Oh, got a loudmouth with the guts to yap despite his cracked skull. Hold tight—I'll patch that head of yours soon enough."
Yuri grinned at the complainer.
The guy shuddered in inexplicable terror.
Yuri shifted his gaze, taking them all in.
"Alright, first day, so I'll warn you like a gentleman."
Chin—.
Yuri, hands still behind his back, spread his feet shoulder-width.
Then he pulled out the hidden object.
A red hat.
He slowly placed it on his head.
"Plenty of you probably ran into me last night. I told you then, right? The Tiger won't eat you."
His low, mana-infused voice spread to every corner of the clearing.
The air temperature plummeted.
"However."
Yuri carefully, meticulously adjusted the red hat on his head.
Swipe—.
Neatly combed back his hair.
Tilted the wide brim slightly forward to shade his eyes.
Snap—.
Hands behind his back again, chin slightly raised in arrogance, he lazily glared at the 51st Batch.
"Your instructor here can rip your pathetic limbs apart anytime."
"......?!"
The shadow from the hat's brim.
The moment golden eyes flashed within—
Whoooosh—!
Terrifying killing intent erupted from Yuri, crashing over the 51st Batch.
Whoosh—!
Like prey facing a predator.
The vicious intent swept their bodies, draining color from their faces.
The weaker-stomached clamped mouths to stifle rising bile.
All but one.
"Ahh......!"
Lisa trembled under Yuri's intent, flushing red.
Yuri withdrew it, and the 51st Batch's gazes shifted instantly.
From 'What makes that 50th Batch punk talk like that? Who does he think he is?'
To
'Who... is that guy?'
Laced with faint fear.
Having seized the 51st Batch in one go, Yuri snapped his fingers lightly.
"Assistants, front and center."
Snap—.
The crisp sound lined up Theresia, Arin, Poppi, and Gunter before the 51st Batch.
Yuri eyed them, licking his lips.
Like tasty food laid out before him.
"Alright then... shall we play?"
With those words, the full 51st Batch remodeling training began.