Chapter 261
Chapter 261
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 261
Chapter Title: Reward (2)
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Yuri Holland's death.
It was a story no one could easily believe.
Anyone who knew what kind of person Yuri was would have snorted in disbelief at the rumor.
The 50th Cohort especially would have grabbed the collar of whoever told them, yelling, "You're a spy sent by that Yuri bastard!"
But paradoxically, the "Yuri Holland death rumor" had first leaked from within the 50th Cohort itself.
It started because Yuri hadn't shown up even after the 100-day deadline for the Hundred-Day Tower quest had passed.
Of course, on the exact 100th day when Yuri didn't appear, the reactions were pretty lukewarm—no one made a big deal of it.
The next day passed with no sign of him, and opinions converged on, "Ah, that guy's definitely up to something again."
Then three more days went by, and most began to wonder, "Wait, something's off here, isn't it?"
By the 10th day of Yuri's absence, someone finally voiced a strong suspicion.
[What if Yuri... actually died?]
That was when it first surfaced.
The Yuri Holland death rumor.
Even then, the atmosphere was still dominated by, "Nah, no way? Yuri dead?"
But as more time dragged on with no sign of him.
Once it hit 15 days, suspicion started turning into conviction.
On top of that, stories about the Hundred-Day Tower quest and Yuri spread throughout Yoram.
[That Yuri Holland?]
[Yeah! They say he died in the 50th Cohort's joint quest!]
[No way. With his skills, he'd go down that easily?]
[It's true, I swear! He went into the Hell difficulty—the hardest one in the 50th Cohort quests—and that's what happened. It's been half a month already with no sign of him.]
[...For real? Then holy shit! How brutal was Hell difficulty?]
[I heard even Hard was insanely tough... So even for Yuri Holland, Hell might've been too much, right?]
Yuri Holland's death.
It was quite the hot topic, so for a while, any time two or more people gathered in Yoram, they'd chatter about it.
With the situation like that, it was only natural the rumor spread even faster.
By the 20th day of Yuri's absence, Yoram had already accepted his death as fact.
Of course, even then, there were still those who refused to believe it.
[No way.]
[Shut up! Why would Yuri die!]
[I'm hungry!]
[He's... not the type to die that easily.]
[Senior Yuri's dead? No... n-no way.]
Even as 99% of Yoram buzzed that Yuri was dead, there were those who were absolutely convinced he was alive.
Yuri's friends.
But even they couldn't help their faith wavering as his absence approached 30 days.
* * *
June 29th, evening with the sunset fading.
Walking along a wooded path, Theresia let out a sigh.
"Hoo..."
Her complexion was as dark as her deep sigh.
Anyone could see her face was full of worry.
Lately, only one person had Theresia so troubled.
'Yuri...'
Theresia was well aware of the rumors swirling in Yoram that Yuri's death was real.
She still denied them, but if her heart wasn't shaking at all, that would be a lie.
'You... where the hell are you and what are you doing...?'
The last confirmed sighting of Yuri alive was on the 99th day after he entered the Hundred-Day Tower—May 31st at night.
The record he registered inside the tower that day was his final trace.
And from that point on, Yuri hadn't appeared.
With things like this, it would be weirder if even the firmest belief didn't waver.
'The others are pretty shocked too...'
Arin, Poppi, Gunter, and Muchi.
They didn't believe the rumors either, but their moods were sour, that much was true.
Arin in particular had been so shocked by everyone unanimously claiming Yuri was dead that she'd gone into complete seclusion.
"Haa..."
Theresia let out another big sigh as she finally left the wooded path.
That's when her footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
'Huh?'
What stopped Theresia was a group approaching from the front.
They were the neighbors settled near the Demon King's Castle.
Leading them was a girl with lemon-yellow hair and a beautiful smile.
The group spotted Theresia too and paused for a moment before resuming their steps.
Theresia and Lisa's group drew slowly closer.
Step, step—
The moment Lisa's group was right upon her, Theresia suddenly stopped and threw a question their way.
"You're not... going to gather tribute again today, are you?"
Lisa halted at the question and nodded.
"Yes. We have to collect it diligently so the one who returns will be pleased."
"......"
Theresia blinked at Lisa's faintly blushing face.
Going out to gather tribute.
Here, that "tribute" meant points, nothing else.
Well, that part was understandable enough, but the problem was it didn't end there.
'There's one more modifier in front of it.'
Namely, "to offer to Yuri."
In other words, "going to gather tribute" meant "going to gather points to offer to Yuri."
If anyone else knew, they'd click their tongues, saying that Yuri bastard was scamming his juniors again...
'Surprisingly, this wasn't even Yuri's doing.'
All of this was Lisa's voluntary action.
Even now, when everyone else was saying Yuri was dead, she hadn't stopped collecting tribute.
Knowing that, Theresia felt her emotions tangle.
'What the hell is this girl thinking?'
While the entire 50th Cohort was inside the Hundred-Day Tower.
Theresia had gotten a chance to talk with Lisa a few times.
As a result, she'd realized Lisa was far from ordinary despite her seemingly normal vibe.
To Theresia, Lisa was an inscrutable existence.
'Lisa Berfort...'
A freshman who'd only entered Yoram half a year ago.
She'd known Yuri for an even shorter time.
And yet...
'How can her faith be that absolute?'
Right now in Yoram, Lisa was the only one who didn't believe Yuri's death even a speck.
Theresia and the others—who'd spent more time with him and thought they knew him better than anyone—were shaking with worry.
But Lisa truly, without a shred of concern or waver, refused to accept that Yuri was dead.
It was an abnormal faith Theresia couldn't comprehend.
Feeling a bit frustrated, she decided to vent by asking Lisa directly.
"How can you believe that so firmly? That Yuri isn't dead?"
At Theresia's question, Lisa looked back at her like she was the weird one.
Eyes that said, "How do you not know that?"
Soon, a casual voice came from Lisa.
"Gods are eternally immortal by nature, aren't they?"
With those words, Lisa gave a light bow and led her group away.
Theresia stared blankly at her retreating back, her head tilting.
"Yuri's... a god?"
Theresia's voice, full of confusion, scattered emptily into the air.
* * *
By the time Theresia parted from "Yuri's First Apostle" and reached the Demon King's Castle, the sun had fully set, leaving everything dim.
Walking the dark passageway, she murmured softly.
"It's so quiet..."
It had always been quiet, but now it felt utterly lifeless, like no one lived here.
'No wonder it really feels like... the Demon King's Castle.'
Even if others called it that, to Theresia, this was the home where she'd first felt at ease.
In the barren world of Yoram, no place was more comfortable or cozy.
But ever since Yuri vanished, a truly eerie aura had settled in, making it feel like a real demon king's lair.
Theresia gave a wry smile.
'Is it because there's no delicious smell anymore...?'
At mealtimes, everyone would gather and chat noisily.
And what signaled the start was the faint, savory aroma of Yuri cooking wafting through the air.
Theresia wondered if the castle had lost its warmth because that smell was gone.
'Tonight... maybe I should try cooking?'
She didn't have confidence in matching Yuri, but she wanted to give it a shot at least once.
That's what Theresia thought.
"...Thinking about food smells makes it seem like I can actually smell it."
She muttered to herself and chuckled.
Then her expression suddenly froze solid.
'Huh?'
Sniff, sniff—
Wrinkle-wrinkle—
Theresia sniffed repeatedly and whispered.
"This... it's actually there?"
The delicious scent tickling her nose wasn't her imagination.
It was really happening.
And a familiar one at that!
Theresia followed the smell like she was entranced.
The stronger the aroma grew, the faster her steps became.
Tap-tap—
Before she knew it, she was running.
Finally, she arrived.
The Demon King's Castle dining hall.
Stepping into the lit room, Theresia froze after just a few steps from the entrance.
"......?!"
The sight that filled her vision—the dining hall's scene.
In the center stood him.
The one everyone said was dead.
Holding several wooden plates in both hands, standing there blankly.
"Ah......"
Like the nearly month-long time had been a dream, there he stood so naturally.
Theresia approached him as if drawn.
"Yuri, you......"
Hearing his name, Yuri subtly hid the plates behind him.
Along with a wary voice from him.
"No way."
"......"
"This is my first proper meal in months! I'm not sharing. Shoo, get lost!"
"......"
"Damn, your nose is like a dog's? You smelled it and came? I was gonna scarf it down quick and clean up."
Irritated glare and sharp tone.
Just like a black cat hissing.
That convinced Theresia.
The guy in front of her was no illusion—the real Yuri.
Theresia, about to rush to him, flinched and stopped, letting out a soft sigh.
"You... what the hell have you been doing all this time? Why show up now?"
"Me? I was just..."
As Yuri started to answer Theresia's question.
Shadows appeared at the dining hall entrance.
Arin, Poppi, Gunter, and Muchi too.
Apparently, Theresia wasn't the only one lured by the food smell.
They arrived almost simultaneously and froze at the sight of Yuri standing in front of Theresia.
"Huh?"
"Hungry?"
"That guy......?"
"Eek?!"
The four stiffened in shock.
But the tension broke quickly, and soon thunderous shouts echoed through the dining hall.
"Yuriiiiii!"
"I'm huuuuungreeeeey!"
"Senpaiiiii!"
Arin burst into tears with a "pweeeng" and rocketed past Theresia, hugging Yuri in one go.
Poppi and Muchi, lips shaped like an eight from holding back sobs, charged in and surrounded Yuri like a wall.
Gunter trailed behind, slowly approaching with arms crossed and a blank face.
"...I knew I wasn't worried about that guy."
Was it just imagination, or did a hint of relief slip into his quiet grumble?
After four months, the tearful, intense reunion from the group prompted an equally fierce reaction from Yuri.
"Hey, hey! Can't you see the plates in my hands?! Ah, stop shaking me! No, fuck, are you all crazy? What's with this bullshit?!"
"Hueeeng, Yuriiing! Swearing like that proves it's our Yuri aaaang!"
"Senior Yuriiiii, swear more! More!"
"I'm huuuuungreeeeey!"
"Fuck, I said stop shaking! The second this spills, your brains spill with it! Huh? Hey, Poppi, you gonna put that down?! Don't sneak a bite, you bastard!"
"I'm huuuuungreeeeey!"
"Cry or eat, pick one! No, just cry! Don't eat—it's all mine!"
The tear-soaked welcome, rife with curses and screams, took a good while to settle.
Afterward, Yuri finally picked up his chopsticks for the hard-won meal and asked.
"What the hell's wrong with you all? Lost your minds? Someone'd think a dead guy came back."
He said that, finally took a bite, and chewed happily.
Just as bliss spread across his face from the taste filling his mouth.
Gunter's dumbfounded voice rang out.
"Not a dead guy returning, but the guy everyone said died is back."
"Mm? Whuh ih dah mean? (Huh? What's that supposed to mean?)"
Gunter sighed at Yuri, who innocently stuffed his mouth full with a childlike expression.
"That's what I mean..."
Gunter began his tale with those words.
By the time Yuri had polished off two plates, the story wrapped up.
Having heard the full rundown, Yuri's face had hardened dramatically.
Thwack—!
He slammed down his wooden chopsticks hard and asked.
"Rumors I died? All over Yoram?"
Shocked by his own death rumor?
The others nodded vigorously at Yuri's stiff question.
With all five in front of him confirming, Yuri realized Gunter's words were all true.
And soon, a grave voice came from him.
"So... what about my funeral?"
"......?"
The group tilted their heads.
Yuri jumped up in outrage.
"You collected condolence money for me, right? Where is it!"
"...There isn't any?"
"Why not?"
"...Wouldn't it be weirder if there was?"
Had Yoram ever held a funeral for anyone?
And what's this about condolence money?
The group puzzled over his nonsense, heads cocked.
Yuri's face crumpled.
"No, when someone dies, you obviously collect condolence money!"
"...Why?"
"Because dead people need a lot of money!"
"Do dead people... need money?"
At Arin's question, Yuri shot her a pitiful look.
"Of course! It's bribes to shove at the grim reaper to send you to heaven!"
"...Even then, you ain't going to heaven."
"Then at least show some sincerity to get sent to the cushy part of hell!"
As Yuri fumed, the others chimed in.
"Condolence money... was for that?"
"Isn't that hush money?"
"Hungry?"
"...Hush money's not for that either, I think?"
"Hmm, something similar, maybe, for the seniors."
While everyone murmured doubts about the purpose of condolence money Yuri mentioned.
The one who'd brought it up was huffing nonstop.
"Anyway, so when I supposedly croaked, not one of you ponied up condolence money?"
Murderous intent flashed in Yuri's eyes.