Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Dragon Scale Hunt (7)
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‘I hope Jerry pulls out all the stops and takes care of those three if he can….’
The ‘those three’ Yuri mentioned were the operators of the multi-level shop.
The ones who had been playing the role of shop owner in his stead.
And they were also the ones who knew about Yuri, the real owner.
‘Those guys must have figured out roughly how many points I have by now.’
How could they not?
They had siphoned off points bit by bit from the middle, so they must have caught on to something.
Just the points they’d pocketed amounted to thousands.
So they could easily infer how many points the real owner of the multi-level shop, Yuri, might possess.
‘It doesn’t matter now since they don’t know what points are worth, but if those guys don’t fall behind and survive, it’ll be a problem.’
If they actually became knights and realized the importance of points.
Then Yuri’s status, holding a massive amount of points, would change.
And that would give those three who knew of his existence a huge advantage.
Whether they tried to latch onto Yuri.
Or sold information about him.
Or teamed up with someone else to go after his points.
They’d definitely try to exploit that advantage somehow.
Hundreds of thousands of points would be a massive temptation for those just becoming knights, so it was inevitable that trouble would come Yuri’s way.
‘In that sense, that weakling senior did waver a bit, but he didn’t go after my points.’
When he’d deliberately opened the point sack to show him.
Surprise and greed had flickered in Jerry’s eyes upon seeing it.
But that greed vanished quickly.
‘He probably figured he couldn’t handle it with his own skills, so he chose not to get greedy.’
That’s why he was useful.
He was quick on the uptake and didn’t covet things beyond his abilities.
‘Better to have one person who knows about me than three. Even better if that one doesn’t get greedy.’
It was easier to control the situation that way, and if information about him leaked, he’d just have to deal with Jerry alone.
‘I originally planned to handle those three myself later….’
That’s why he’d turned a blind eye to them skimming points and had already scoped out their hideouts in advance.
But then something more urgent came up that took priority.
So he dumped the task of dealing with the trio on Jerry.
Of course, Jerry had no idea it was for Yuri’s benefit.
“Keep it up, senior.”
Yuri cheered Jerry on.
Hoping he’d go all out and decisively eliminate those three who could become nuisances.
Pushing aside that minor wish, Yuri picked up speed again toward the south.
As he ran, he occasionally spotted members of the 49th Cohort and reserve knights, but the signs of life faded the closer he got to the edge of the forest.
How long had he been running like that?
The dark clouds that had brought the blizzard to the forest finally receded.
And as sparkling stars began to appear one by one in the night sky.
Yuri, gradually slowing down, finally came to a stop.
What halted him was the towering wall blocking his path ahead.
The massive 17-meter wall encircling the Starting Forest from the beginning.
Looking up at the wall that had perfectly isolated the Starting Forest from the outside world for ages, an excited breath escaped Yuri’s lips in anticipation.
“Hoo-.”
After exhaling deeply, he started moving his legs again, which had paused.
‘This isn’t my final destination by a long shot.’
Yuri’s figure shot forward rapidly.
As he ran, he examined the wall drawing closer.
A dizzying height no ordinary person could even dream of climbing.
Moreover, the smoothly polished outer surface offered only the tiniest cracks barely wide enough for a single finger.
Even someone trained in martial arts would find it no easy task to scale it bare-handed without preparation.
Yet Yuri’s eyes held no hesitation as he charged toward that wall.
‘I’m going over.’
And as his speed reached its peak.
Tap-.
His figure leaped toward the wall.
In an instant, he jumped 3 meters high, and his right foot touched the wall.
Screeech-.
The friction from his sole against the wall.
It wasn’t enough force to overcome the gravity pulling at a human body.
But for Yuri, who had mastered Cloud Steps, it was plenty.
Screech-.
His legs, infused with power, kicked off the wall.
Bang!
His body rocketed upward.
That was the start.
Bang- Bang- Bang!
Each time Yuri alternated kicking off with his legs, his body surged up the wall another meter.
It was a spectacle like a human walking straight up the vertical surface—an acrobatic feat.
After exactly fifteen such steps.
Tap-.
Both of Yuri’s feet landed precisely atop the wall.
“Whew-.”
After a short exhale, Yuri peered beyond the wall.
A gentle plain stretched out, filled farther on by the horizon swallowed in darkness.
Jerry had told him that sailing due south for about a day by ship would reach the Cradle’s mainland.
“Once I go down from here… there’s no coming back.”
About 28 hours remained until midnight on January 1st.
Either he’d make it to the mainland in that time, or he wouldn’t.
Those were the only two futures left to Yuri, but….
“I don’t think I’ll fail, though.”
As long as he didn’t lose his way, he could reach the mainland with time to spare.
He was confident in his swimming, after all.
‘Who knew the old man’s training would pay off like this.’
Whether it had been intentional or just lucky.
Probably the latter, but still, seeing that grueling effort bear fruit filled him with a sense of pride.
Calming his excitement, Yuri checked the point box strapped to his back.
No damage anywhere.
The points inside were safe.
Confirming all was well, he tightened the straps on the box and said.
“Alright, let’s go?”
With a faint smile, Yuri threw himself off the wall downward.
Tap-.
His receding back grew smaller as he moved away from the wall.
Tatatata-.
Finally, his figure vanished from the Starting Forest.
Twenty-eight hours passed since Yuri left the forest.
Donggggg-.
A massive bell toll reverberated across the Starting Forest.
It signaled the end of the long survival exam and the start of the new year.
* * *
Around 1 p.m. on January 1st.
Three black ships docked at the pier near the Starting Forest.
And hundreds of people had gathered in front of them.
They could be divided into exactly four groups.
First, the largest group.
Those with a somber atmosphere, looking like defeated remnants—they were the dropouts whose dragon scales had shattered.
They boarded the black ships with heavy, listless steps, and behind them was the second group.
Ragged and exhausted in appearance, but their faces brimmed with joy and accomplishment: boys and girls who were reserve knights who had survived.
And those watching them board, relieved not to be in their place, were the successful survivors.
Dropouts and survivors.
Between these two groups with polar-opposite vibes was another group with a distinct atmosphere.
Seven columns, perfectly aligned in rows, standing at ease without the slightest movement.
Unlike the reserve knights sprawled haphazardly here and there, they displayed strict discipline and order: the 49th Cohort with their yellow epaulets.
And the final group was the blackblade troops handling the situation.
At the center of the blackblade troops, the one-eyed man directing operations furrowed his brow at his subordinate’s report.
“…Only 202 dropouts?”
Of the 503 reserve knights, 301 had survived this survival exam.
A 40% dropout rate, but to the one-eyed man, that was ‘only.’
And rightly so, as survivors had consistently numbered around 100 in the past.
At most, maybe 150 on rare occasions?
Yet this time, twice that number had survived.
Several reasons accounted for this mess.
First, the unusually harsh weather.
The erratic conditions had forced reserve knights to hunker down, making it hard for the 49th Cohort to track them.
Second.
Only 72 members of the 49th Cohort had participated in this dragon scale hunt.
‘Tch, those 48th Cohort bastards went too far.’
The current 49th Cohort were also survivors of a dragon scale hunt.
However, thanks to the 48th Cohort—evaluated as ‘the most unified cohort in history’—only 81 of them had survived theirs.
Naturally, that meant far fewer 49th Cohort members for this hunt.
Which had been lucky for the 50th Cohort.
But the fundamental reason 301 of the 50th Cohort survived was due to ‘one particular guy’ more than any other factor.
At a time when reserve knights should have been fighting among themselves.
He’d suddenly opened a bizarre shop, creating a harmonious Starting Forest where competition was unnecessary.
And he’d swept up most of the points scattered throughout the forest.
‘Yuri Holland.’
That bastard was why 301 of the 50th Cohort had survived.
‘Not many in the 50th probably realize they owe their survival to him, but….’
The one-eyed man clicked his tongue inwardly in exasperation when a subordinate approached.
“All dropouts have signed the non-disclosure contracts and boarded.”
“If you’re done, dump them and get back here.”
The blackblade subordinate hesitated at the one-eyed man’s irritated wave.
“Before that, there’s something to report.”
“……?”
“One reserve knight is missing.”
“Missing one?”
“Yes. Of 503 total, 502 are accounted for.”
“You searched properly, right? This isn’t just you guys missing him?”
“…We’re continuing the search, but we may need reinforcements.”
“So you haven’t found him. Tch. Who’s the missing one?”
“Yuri Holland.”
“Yuri Holland?”
The one-eyed man, who’d just been thinking of Yuri, was stunned to hear the name again.
‘That troublemaker’s causing issues right to the end.’
But on the other hand, he could understand why the blackblade troops hadn’t found him.
‘If that guy’s seriously hiding or shaking them off, even the blackblade troops would struggle.’
Not just his skill, but he was no ordinary cunning bastard.
If they’d tracked him from the start, maybe, but if he’d gone to ground midway, they’d have a tough time.
Understanding this, the one-eyed man issued an order.
“Deploy all blackblade troops except the minimum needed here to the search.”
“Yes.”
“And dump those vermin right now.”
The subordinate was slightly flustered as the one-eyed man nodded toward the black ship carrying the dropouts.
“Pardon? But we still don’t know if Yuri Holland dropped out…”
“Never mind. He wouldn’t have failed.”
“Understood.”
Convinced by the one-eyed man’s certainty, the subordinate moved without further argument.
Soon, the black ship with the dropouts departed the pier, and fifteen minutes later, the one with the 49th Cohort followed.
Time passed again, and around 2 p.m.
The other survivors, tired of the endless wait, began murmuring about something being off.
When no word came of Yuri being found, the one-eyed man clicked his tongue.
“Tch, once the exam’s over, you’d think he’d pop out quick. What the hell’s he doing….”
Taking a nap somewhere?
As he thought that, the one-eyed man scratched his chin.
‘That’s the real problem.’
Blackblade troops who roamed the continent, unable to find a guy napping on a tiny island?
If true, it’d mean disciplinary action for everyone on the search.
‘Nah, no way that’s the case.’
As the one-eyed man chuckled inwardly.
A group appeared from the direction of the gate.
“Hm?”
Turning his head curiously, the one-eyed man sighed.
“Damn kid shows up early.”
His gaze fell on Yuri, walking surrounded by blackblade troops.