Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Special Discount Store (1)
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The black ship carrying the 49th Cohort cadets sliced through the waves without hesitation.
After two straight days of relentless dragon scale hunting without even a wink of sleep, the 49th Cohort cadets were scattered across the ship, catching some rest.
Yet their overall mood was far from cheerful.
A few looked somewhat decent, but most wore irritated expressions.
Finally, one of them couldn't hold back his frustration and let out a rough curse.
"Damn it, we busted our asses and came up with jack squat!"
His profanity echoed across the deck, drawing nods of agreement from many in the 49th Cohort.
Seeing his fellow cadets like that, Jerry couldn't help but crack a faint smile.
"The fools...."
He'd heard that most of the 49th Cohort would come up empty during the dragon scale hunt.
He'd accepted the guy's suggestion, but he'd been skeptical, full of doubt.
Honestly, he'd mostly figured it was worth a shot even if it meant getting duped.
But what do you know?
After the hunt wrapped up and he heard from his cohorts, everything the guy said checked out.
On top of that, the info on those three he'd tipped off about turned out true, and Yuri had lucked out monopolizing them, netting over 3,000 points.
It might not be a fortune for a second-year, but scoring that much while everyone else struck out was a solid achievement.
Just as gratitude toward Yuri started bubbling up in his chest...
'Huh? Come to think of it, I don't remember seeing that guy in the group of passers...'
With his jet-black hair and that distinctive laid-back vibe, he'd stand out for sure.
Yet Jerry couldn't recall spotting him right up until he left the island.
"...Did he fail?"
He muttered to himself, then chuckled.
"Nah, no way that guy flunked."
Probably just that there were so many 50th Cohort passers this time that he'd missed him.
Or...
"Heh, probably off doing some crazy stunt somewhere and showed up late!"
Jerry muttered playfully to himself before shoving thoughts of Yuri aside and drifting off to sleep.
* * *
A boy walking surrounded by ten Black Blade troopers.
It was none other than Yuri, who'd headed to Yuram mainland just two days ago.
A few 50th Cohort cadets glanced curiously at Yuri and the Black Blade troopers.
But those rolling their eyes quickly flinched and averted their gazes.
The aura radiating from the Black Blade troopers encircling Yuri was anything but ordinary.
Just looking at them sent chills down the spine with their raw killing intent.
The 50th Cohort cadets who'd snuck peeks broke out in cold sweats.
'What the hell? What's their deal?'
'Something go down?'
The Black Blade troopers were usually stoic, but he'd never seen them leaking this much killing intent.
Something had clearly happened, and he was dying to know what.
But who had the guts to approach Black Blade troopers in that state and ask?
Meanwhile, Yuri—surrounded by those bloodthirsty troopers—looked utterly unfazed.
He just kept mumbling nonstop, lips moving under his tousled hair.
"Come on, even if he's just some kid, doesn't ten Black Blade troopers babysitting him feel like overkill?"
"......"
"Right?"
"...Shut up and walk."
"Got it."
Yuri promptly clammed up under the trooper's fierce glare.
Moments later, the one-eyed man ahead of him spoke up as Yuri came into view.
"Yuri Holland's dragon scale?"
"Checked. No issues."
It was expected, so the one-eyed man showed no particular reaction.
He was just curious where this kid had been and what he'd been up to until now.
"Where'd you find him?"
"Well..."
Those escorting Yuri exchanged awkward looks at the question.
One of the troopers—the highest-ranking by the look of him—glanced around and murmured softly.
"...In the vice captain's tent."
For a split second, the one-eyed man thought he'd misheard.
He blinked and asked again.
"Where?"
But his hearing was fine.
What wasn't normal was the place Yuri had been nabbed.
"...Inside the garrison. From the vice captain's tent."
"My tent?"
"Yes."
The one-eyed man's head snapped toward Yuri.
Under that piercing glare, Yuri scratched the back of his head and flashed a goofy grin.
"Heh heh, figured the nicest-looking spot had to be some bigwig's digs."
"You little..."
A tangle of emotions flickered in the one-eyed man's sole eye.
'Hiding out in the garrison? In my tent, no less?'
The voyage from the Forest of Beginnings to Yuram mainland took a full day by ship.
With the month-long survival exam, the Black Blade Corps couldn't shuttle countless troopers back and forth every time.
Hence the temporary garrison outside the northern walls...
They hadn't exactly hidden it from the reserve cadets.
Any who went looking could've found it easy enough.
But who in their right mind would cross the walls into a place swarming with Black Blade troopers to hide?
'...And yet, here he is.'
The guy who'd pull off the insane stunt no one else would dare.
Slipping right into the Black Blade Corps vice captain's tent, no less.
"Huh..."
The one-eyed man wore a strange expression.
'Did he time it on purpose?'
The garrison was normally under tight watch by the resident troopers.
No top-tier cadet could sneak in easily.
But once a month, for a single day.
A few hours when every guard slacked off and the garrison emptied out.
'Right when even the forest overseer—me—steps away.'
That was when all the exams ended, and hundreds of Black Blade troopers entered the Forest of Beginnings for cleanup.
In other words, the perfect window for anyone with ulterior motives to slip into the garrison.
The one-eyed man glared at Yuri.
"Body search?"
"Done. Nothing suspicious."
"Anything missing from my tent?"
"We checked... Nothing."
"Nothing? At all?"
"Yes."
The scar on the one-eyed man's face twitched.
'He just waltzed into my tent for no reason?'
It made no sense.
He couldn't picture this kid sneaking in without some agenda.
'What was even in there?'
The tent in the Forest of Beginnings garrison was just a temp shelter for the month—nothing special.
More like a makeshift office than living quarters.
Just some bedding, basic furnishings, and a few urgent papers.
Papers a reserve cadet crashing in the forest wouldn't give a damn about.
'Then what the hell for?'
The one-eyed man's eye narrowed at Yuri.
As if peering straight into his soul.
'Purpose... purpose, huh...'
What if Yuri Holland's real goal wasn't in his tent?
Then why hide there specifically?
'If it's this guy...'
A glint flashed in the man's eye.
He compressed his voice with mana and sent it to his subordinate.
[Search the supply depot. Now.]
A high-level mana control technique that only reached the intended ear.
The subordinate instantly grasped why the vice captain used it just for him, gave a slight nod, and moved out.
The one-eyed man, having issued the order, now turned to Yuri with a question.
"Just to be sure, I'm asking..."
"......?"
"You got a thing for sticky fingers too?"
No sooner had he asked than Yuri bristled indignantly.
"What? How dare you judge me like that! And 'too'? 'Too' what— what else you pinning on me?! I only went into that tent to hide!"
"......"
"It looked like the best spot, so I figured it had to be some high-up's room! The top dog's quarters wouldn't get searched, right? Come on, how do you see people!"
Yuri looked utterly wronged, eyes brimming as if hurt by the accusation.
But that expression didn't last.
Clatter-.
At the one-eyed man's order, the group who'd searched the supply depot returned dragging several large sacks.
After a quick report to the one-eyed man, they dumped the contents out right in front of Yuri.
Out spilled small pebbles and dirt.
Rrrumble-.
The one-eyed man smirked at the piled gravel.
"No sticky fingers, huh?"
"What're you talking about?"
"That was a sack from the supply depot holding 10-point coins. As you can see, the contents got swapped for gravel."
Points.
Those holed silver coins only had value to cadets.
To Black Blade troopers, points weren't legal tender—just fake money, common inventory to manage.
Especially the 10-point ones: long-stuck malignant stock nobody cared about...
'This punk, sniffed 'em out somehow.'
Sure, excess junk points, but still easily over 100,000 points worth.
And being the lowest denomination, the volume was massive.
'Couldn't haul it all at once, so he stashed it somewhere to grab later.'
The Forest of Beginnings would close for a while after this dragon scale hunt anyway—perfect setup to retrieve later.
But hiding that much would've eaten up time, leaving no window to slip out.
Hence, hiding in his tent on purpose.
'Even if caught in my tent, nothing stolen means no crime.'
Yuri wasn't an official cadet yet, and he had the excuse of survival desperation.
In short, the whole thing was this kid's scheme.
Even...
"Where is it?"
"No clue what you've been on about... What's this points stuff?"
That shameless act.
The one-eyed man stifled a laugh and pressed.
"Where'd you stash the loot?"
"Seriously, I've got no idea!"
Yuri's face screamed innocence, but to the one-eyed man—who'd already pegged him—it fell flat.
Lucky he didn't curse the brazen mug.
But the one-eyed man didn't mind Yuri's cheek.
'Bold little shit.'
Even with most troopers gone and security lax, it was still a Black Blade garrison.
Sneaking in was a challenge no normal reserve cadet would dream of.
Then prowling to find the supply depot, snag the points.
And fake hiding in the overseer's tent to cover his exit?
All improvised?
That went beyond bold—straight-up monster territory.
Sure, he'd gotten caught, but most would've fallen for this monster's ploy.
That's why the one-eyed man wasn't hating on Yuri Holland—in fact, he was starting to like him.
Watching Yuri still play dumb with his "I know nothing" routine, he finally let out a chuckle and said.
"Hand over the stolen goods. Now."
"Come on, how do you keep judging...!"
"Cooperate, and I won't press charges. Hell, you can keep half."
It was the one-eyed man's favor to a kid he actually liked for once.
Half was still tens of thousands of points.
A huge boon for a fresh-faced cadet fresh off the Forest of Beginnings.
But it was also his final warning.
I've cut you this much slack—own up now and don't cross the line.
Yuri accepted the warning.
Faster than anyone.
"...Damn, you nailed it! Man, you've got a real eye for people!"
The room fell silent as Yuri shot up a thumbs-up in 0.1 seconds.