Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Small Snowball (1)
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A woman was sprinting forward at an astonishing speed.
Thud thud thud—.
It was so incredibly fast that one might doubt whether a human could even run like that.
And to top it off, there was a person riding on her back.
Not just on ordinary paths, but leaping over tree branches and even the roofs of buildings.
No obstacle could stop the woman.
Her dash came to a halt as she entered a certain building.
"We're here."
At those words, Yuri hopped down from Greta's back.
He pulled off the black sack over his head and shook his hair out.
"Phew, I thought I was gonna suffocate."
As Yuri straightened his hair, his eyes widened at the sight before him.
"Whoa...?"
The building's interior stretched up a full five stories.
Each floor had countless doors, and Black Sword Corps soldiers bustled through the corridors here and there.
'Is this the Black Sword Corps supply depot?'
While Yuri was busy taking in the surroundings, Greta's voice rang out.
"Don't get distracted. Follow me."
With that, she started up the stairs.
Afraid of losing her, Yuri hurried after.
They stopped in front of a certain door on the third floor, and Greta knocked with a slightly tense expression.
Knock knock—.
"17th Squad Leader Greta Weigan reporting for duty."
"Come in."
Once permission came from inside, Greta cautiously opened the door and entered.
It was the most careful demeanor Yuri had seen from her yet.
Yuri followed quietly behind her.
The room they entered greeted Yuri first with the scent of dried herbs.
It was a familiar aroma to him.
'...Medicinal herbs?'
His gaze was captured by hundreds of small drawers lining one wall.
Each palm-sized drawer was engraved with an unknown symbol.
And right in front of the massive drawer cabinet.
A stern-looking old man sat at a long table.
His hair was completely white.
He was dressed neatly, like a bartender.
Complete with a monocle.
Greta approached him and handed over a document.
It was the elixir usage permit she'd received from above.
The old gentleman skimmed it briefly before crumpling it up and beckoning Yuri with a hand.
"Me?"
Beckon—beckon—.
Yuri blinked in confusion at the old man, who just kept motioning with his finger without a word.
After hesitating for a moment, he approached the old man.
He was being cautious since this was someone even Greta was minding her manners around.
Step step—.
The two now faced each other.
The old man lifted his monocle and scanned Yuri with deep, piercing eyes.
After a brief, heavy silence, he spat out a single word.
"It's you."
Yuri tilted his head at the old man's tone, as if he knew him.
"You know me?"
But the old man ignored Yuri's question.
Instead, he reached out and began prodding and poking at him.
Checking muscles and bones.
Examining eyes, nose, ears, and even prying open his mouth to inspect his teeth.
His hands moved so swiftly and fluidly that Yuri surrendered his body in an instant.
After thoroughly examining Yuri for a good while, the old man stood up.
"Wait here."
Yuri muttered in disbelief as he watched the old man leave after those words.
"...Who the heck is that old guy?"
"He's the Pharmacy Chief elder. Every elixir supplied to the Black Sword Corps passes through his hands."
"Okay, fine, but... do you always get a full body checkup just to get an elixir?"
"Uh, well... I don't really know."
Greta blinked.
From what she'd heard, other squad leaders just got their elixirs and that was it.
She hadn't known about any examination like this.
While Yuri and Greta exchanged puzzled looks, the old man returned.
Thud—.
He casually placed a vial of black liquid on the long table.
"Take that and drink it."
The old man nodded toward a door attached to the pharmacy room.
Meanwhile, Yuri frowned slightly at the vial on the table.
"Whoa, what kind of medicine is this color...? You sure it's safe to drink?"
Did Yuri's words bruise his pride?
The old man's eyes twitched.
"You doubting my elixir right now?"
"No, it's not that, but the color is just... kinda gross."
It looked just like ink, pitch black.
Anyone unfamiliar with it would naturally feel repulsed.
The old man snorted.
"If you don't like it, go complain to those idiots obsessed with black. They're the ones who insisted on that color. But I guarantee you, there's not a speck of anything wrong with my elixirs."
"......"
Yuri silently regarded the old man's face.
Unlike his wrinkled skin, his eyes burned with a youthful intensity.
It was the gaze of a craftsman who'd devoted his life to medicines.
With that, Yuri picked up the vial without further worry.
"I'll be back!"
"Yeah. I'll wait here, so drink it and come out."
"Got it."
Yuri scampered off with an excited look, and only then did the old man's stern expression soften.
Greta, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought ever since Yuri disappeared.
A brief silence followed.
"Hmm......"
Unable to resolve her doubts alone, Greta hesitantly spoke up.
"Um... elder?"
"What?"
The old gentleman glanced up at her call.
Greta asked timidly.
"About that elixir just now..."
"What about it."
"I heard... the elixirs for squad leaders are supposed to be blue."
At her hesitant words, the old man replied with a sneer.
"So what? You think I gave you the wrong one?"
"I-I was just wondering if maybe you mistook the color and handed it out by accident."
The old man's gaze turned icy.
"I might err on other things, but not on selecting elixirs. Accusing me of that is an insult."
"S-Sorry."
As Greta bowed her head in haste, the old man quelled his anger slightly and snorted.
"It's no mistake."
"...Then what was that one?"
"Something better."
"Huh?"
"The ones for squad leaders are third-grade. That was first-grade."
"Wha? Why would you give something like that..."
Her eyes implied *to some random recruit?*, but the old man answered indifferently.
"Because they told me to from above."
"...From above?"
"Direct order from the Division Commander."
"......?"
Greta stared blankly for a long moment, failing to process his words, before startling and shouting.
"Th-the Division Commander used his authority to order a better elixir?"
"More precisely, an order came to give him a first-grade one suited to his constitution."
"Wh... why?"
Watching Greta blink repeatedly, the old man muttered softly.
"How should I know."
With that, he glanced toward the room Yuri had entered.
"Well, guess the kid caught the eye of someone high up."
"......?!"
Greta's pupils shook.
'*Someone high up...?*'
A direct order from the Black Sword Corps Division Commander.
Such orders didn't come lightly unless it was an emergency.
'*And for something as trivial as swapping an elixir?*'
The fact that it had been handled this swiftly meant intervention from someone even higher than the Division Commander.
And higher than him would be...
Gulp—.
Greta swallowed dryly and stared at the door Yuri had gone through.
* * *
Brownish tea water filled a pristine white cup.
Pour—.
Gordon picked up the teacup.
He asked softly toward the one who'd poured it.
"What's on your mind?"
"Huh?"
The adjutant blinked in confusion at the Division Commander's question.
He'd only poured the tea and said nothing.
"Your face says something doesn't sit right with you."
"Ah......"
"Is it about that direct order I issued recently?"
"......"
"Looks like it."
As if reading his mind, the Division Commander saw right through him, leaving the adjutant embarrassed.
Then, as if it was for the best, he spilled what was on his chest.
"Yes, honestly. I can't quite understand using your authority as Division Commander to supply an elixir to some recruit who just joined this year..."
Gordon took a sip of his tea in response.
Slurp—.
"You saw it too. The report from Greta Weigan."
"Yes, it was impressive."
Two days ago, a report came in about the ongoing quest targeting the current 50th Cohort.
It detailed how a single recruit—merely Certified 1st Dan—had defeated a Certified 6th Dan Black Sword Corps soldier.
Even with the limit of ten exchanges, it was astonishing.
But...
"Even so, using your direct authority for this..."
"It breaks fairness with the other recruits?"
"...No way."
"Abuse of power then?"
"N-No, how could I! I just thought you might be paying a bit too much attention to one recruit. Something like elixir distribution could've been handled without your direct authority."
"Tch, I was joking, no need to get all serious. You're so stiff."
"Sorry. But how could I ever think your actions were abuse of power! Though now that you say it..."
"Is that so?"
"Yes!"
"Well, too bad. It *is* abuse of power."
"Huh......?"
"This wasn't on orders from the Sword Lord. I did it on my own."
"Whaa?!"
"What? You think I don't have that much authority?"
"N-No!"
Gordon Crowden, Yoram's second-in-command.
The administrative ruler managing Yoram in place of the uninterested Sword Lord—did anyone think he couldn't handle a single elixir on his whim?
He could distribute far beyond first-grade if he wanted, and no one would bat an eye.
That was how immense Gordon's authority was.
Yet he'd never once used it for personal gain.
So the adjutant had assumed this direct order came at the Sword Lord's behest...
'*The Division Commander used his authority for personal reasons?*'
It was a situation the adjutant had never witnessed while working under Gordon.
'*No way... he wouldn't...?*'
The Gordon he knew wouldn't act without reason.
Clinging to that belief, the adjutant grew even more confused, unable to fathom his intent.
Seeing this, Gordon picked up his teacup again.
"No need to overthink it. Just..."
Slurp—.
"Think of it as a successful senior giving a gift to a junior he likes after a long time."
Yoram's one of the Twelve Swords, Gordon Crowden.
He was none other than Yoram's first cohort.
'*A gift for a junior... not wrong.*'
Clink—.
An enigmatic smile played on the lips of the senior alumnus as he set down his teacup.
* * *
Tap—tap—tap—.
Arms crossed, Greta kept drumming her index finger on her bicep.
She gazed anxiously at the door Yuri had entered.
'He's taking too long.'
Yuri had vanished to consume the elixir and still hadn't emerged after hours.
It was already past midnight.
In another hour or two, she'd have to leave for her own mission.
'I wish he'd come out before it's too late.'
That way she could escort him to the Animal Forest and prepare herself.
As she earnestly willed Yuri to appear soon.
Click—creak—.
The door, shut tight since Yuri entered, finally swung open.