Chapter 96
Chapter 96
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: The Tiger Repays the Favor (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yuri tilted his head at the glare Greta shot his way.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Is something wrong?"
"...No."
There was a problem, but showing it would feel like losing somehow.
Greta shook her head, and Yuri waved his hand enthusiastically again.
As if urging her to place what he wanted right there on his palm.
"Anyway, elixir! An elixir would be perfect as compensation for this job! Spirit medicine works too!"
Greta scratched her cheek awkwardly at Yuri's fervent demand.
"Hmm... But I don't have any of that stuff? Spirit medicines or elixirs that boost mana don't really work on me anymore, so I stopped taking them ages ago."
Yuri's expression turned icy in an instant.
"...You stopped something I can't even have if I want it? Who's this auntie trying to rile up?"
"Ah! Wait, I do have one!"
Yuri's face lit up like the sun in a flash.
He bowed at the waist again.
"I knew I could count on you, sis!"
Arin and Poppi watched Yuri's ever-shifting expressions with amusement.
Greta let out a soft sigh as she gazed at Yuri beaming nonstop in front of her.
It was a sigh born from her own confusion about what was even happening anymore.
"Sigh... When you join the Black Sword Legion and make squad leader, they give you an elixir. I didn't need mine, so I just held onto it. You should probably just ask for it now."
"Oh? If it's for squad leaders, it must be good, right?"
"Who knows. I've never tried it, so I can't say for sure, but the seniors said it's not bad."
"Awesome! Kugh, you're the best, sis!"
Yuri flashed double thumbs-up, his smile deepening, before he rubbed his hands together slyly.
"So, when can I get that elixir...?"
"No point dragging it out. My role here is done anyway, so I have to report back. I'll hand in the report, grab the elixir, and come straight back. Should be before the quest ends."
No sooner had she spoken than the action-oriented tiger set off to repay her debt.
"Hurry back! We'll be waiting!"
Yuri waved his arm furiously at the rapidly vanishing Greta crossing the forest, until his hand was a blur.
Once Greta was completely out of sight, Yuri's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by calm serenity.
He turned to Arin and Poppi.
"So, what are you two gonna do now?"
Yuri and his not-quite-allies' goal had been "tiger hunt."
And now that they'd achieved it, it was only natural to discuss their next move.
Arin replied in an exhausted voice.
"We've got enough points from what we've earned so far, so I'm just gonna rest from here on out. I'm too beat to keep going."
"Stomach empty."
Poppi nodded along with Arin's words, signaling the same plan.
They'd followed Yuri on bear hunts, so each held three bear pelts.
That alone put them in the top ranks.
No, excluding Yuri, they might have racked up the most points of anyone.
For the two with no greed for more points, it was plenty—and what they needed now was rest.
With the tiger gone, the heart of this forsaken beast forest—unvisited by others—was the safest spot imaginable.
Having stated her intent, Arin turned the question back on Yuri.
"What about you?"
Yuri answered without a second's hesitation.
"I'm heading straight back to hunting."
"You're something else..."
"Stomach empty."
Poppi and Arin stuck out their tongues in disbelief at his response.
As if earning that much wasn't enough already.
But Yuri couldn't comprehend their reaction.
"Rest? Why?"
It had been six days since entering the beast forest.
Midnight was approaching, making it almost day seven.
Three days until the quest ended.
And those three days weren't just any three days for Yuri.
He'd wiped out every bear in the forest.
Even the apex predator tiger was done.
Wolves were the only predators left, and they posed no threat to him.
If anything, they were lucky not to become his prey.
"In other words, for the next three days, this beast forest... is my turf!"
A three-day reign!
A new master had claimed the forest the tiger left behind.
Only Yuri, Arin, and Poppi knew bears and tigers were gone from the beast forest.
That's why he couldn't fathom Poppi and Arin wasting that advantage on rest.
Passing up such a sweet opportunity.
"Well, if they're handing it to me, all the better."
Yuri's lips curled into a grin he didn't bother hiding, his greedy smile on full display as he stared toward the forest's edge.
Picturing the 50th Cohort getting hunted in reverse and the wolves strutting around full of themselves.
"Ha, you're all dead meat."
Yuri clenched his fist tight—a signal that the frenzy of hunting was about to begin.
* * *
Time flew by.
True to the word "frenzy," Yuri hunted like a madman, day after day.
And so, it was the afternoon of January 28th.
One day before the pelt-gathering quest ended.
"Hand over the pelts. Where are they?"
"I-I already got robbed by someone else..."
"You sure they're gone? If they turn up after I shake you down, I won't be responsible for what happens."
"Hey, you heartless bastard! Cut me some slack! How many pelts have you already taken from me?!"
"Done yapping?"
Rustle-.
"N-No, not yet! Even shops give bonuses to regulars like me. Can't you spare me once? And I'm your senior, you punk—gurk! A-Alright! Fine! Here, take it! Gaaah!"
That day too, Yuri was tormenting a rabbit as usual.
That's when the one he'd been eagerly awaiting finally arrived.
The one Yuri had longed for.
Greta Wigen, returning after three days.
But unfortunately, she hadn't brought what he wanted.
"So, uh..."
The two had moved to a secluded spot for a deep talk.
Yuri stared at Greta, his eyes bulging.
"...Why are your hands empty?"
Where's my elixir? My elixir!
My elixir! My elixir?
My elixir! My elixir!
Where's my elixir!
His eyes screamed it so plainly that Greta scratched the back of her head.
"Well..."
Greta started in a small voice.
She explained why she couldn't bring the elixir.
A moment later.
After hearing the simple explanation, Yuri asked in disbelief.
"No takeout, you say?"
"Yeah."
"But I thought takeout was allowed? That's why you went to get it."
"...I thought so too."
Seeing Greta's awkward, caught-off-guard look, Yuri's face fell like the world was ending.
"So... I can't have that elixir?"
Just as Yuri's shoulders slumped.
Greta shook her head.
"No, that's not it. Takeout's banned, but you can go to the supply depot and take it there. I checked— even non-Black Sword Legion folks have to consume it on-site."
The elixir issued to Black Sword Legion squad leaders.
It was standard issue within the legion, but top-tier outside the cradle.
To protect its formula, they banned takeout and required on-site consumption.
There was even a rest area at the depot after taking it, and she'd gotten permission to bring Yuri in.
Yuri's shoulders straightened, his face blooming into a grin.
"Phew, what a relief! No problem then!"
"Well..."
Greta scratched her cheek again, her expression awkward.
A hint of apology in her eyes.
"I, uh... I might have to head out on a mission soon. Finished the tiger role too quick, so they assigned the next one right away."
"Oh, really? Safe travels. Drop me at that supply depot before you go."
"Er... well... The mission's... tomorrow..."
"......"
Yuri's beaming face soured again.
"Tomorrow? When would you even get back?"
"No idea. It's a long-term gig, return date TBD..."
He'd wondered why she'd come before the quest even ended.
"So that's it."
Just in case, Yuri asked.
"Can I go to that supply depot thing alone?"
"No dice. Even bringing you this time means blindfolding you. And I vouched for letting you in."
"No depot in the beast forest, obviously?"
"Obviously."
"So leaving the forest mid-quest is fine?"
"...Asked about that too. But since it's personal, not official business, no exceptions."
Greta scratched the back of her head sheepishly again.
Yuri's gaze chilled.
"Let's recap. Can't bring the elixir—Black Sword Legion policy, so I have to go myself. But I can't leave the beast forest. Break that rule, instant disqualification?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Argh, what kind of nonsense is this?!"
Yuri's sigh deepened.
To get the elixir, he absolutely needed guarantor Greta with him.
But she was leaving on mission tomorrow.
Problem was, he still had a full day before the quest ended and he could leave the forest.
She'd boldly promised to deliver, only for it to snag like this—Greta looked embarrassed and sorry.
She mumbled.
"Tr-trust me and wait. I'll definitely take you there."
"Long-term mission, return date unknown? What if you get back after I graduate?"
"C'mon, it won't take that lo—"
"Can you swear you'll be back in months?"
"......"
Greta clamped her mouth shut.
Honestly, missions often dragged on for years, so she couldn't promise.
She just felt bad for failing to keep her word.
Yuri pondered.
After much internal struggle, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Sigh... No helping it."
"Huh?"
"Not thrilled, but no choice."
"You have a way?"
"Kinda..."
It was an irritating option from Yuri's standpoint.
But right now, it was the only path to claim both quest rewards and the tiger's favor.
Decision made, Yuri brushed off his rear and stood.
"Won't take long. Wait here a sec."
"Got it."
Greta nodded, and Yuri vanished in a flash.
About fifteen minutes later.
"I'm back!"
Yuri reappeared, face bright.
"Let's go!"
And so, the night before the pelt-gathering quest's end.
Yuri left the beast forest, sealing his quest failure.