Chapter 267. Pass the Bomb (2)
A silver flash sliced through the air, and the tent split in half with a sharp tear.
Accompanied by the sound of someone’s scream.
“Ahhh! My hoooome?!”
The helpless cry of someone who had lost their sanctuary echoed through the air.
But even that was just one among the many sounds.
*Boom!*
Explosions continued to erupt without pause.
“Ugh!”
Groans of pain came from all directions.
*Crack! Tear!*
The sounds of things breaking and ripping.
It didn’t take long for the once peaceful third-year residential area to turn into ruins.
Yulia, who had been watching the entire process unfold from beginning to end, couldn’t help but click her tongue.
‘This is a complete disaster.’
What used to be at least somewhat recognizable as a refugee camp had become unrecognizable, completely transformed.
The 49th batch cadets were scattered everywhere, lying sprawled and buried.
It would be faster to count the tents that could still be used among the torn and collapsed ones.
All of this chaos was caused by a single person.
In other words, it was because seventy people couldn’t stop one person.
Yulia’s gaze fell on the figure rampaging through the area, turning everything to rubble.
‘Looks like the training in hell paid off… He’s become even stronger.’
Not long ago, he had been reported dead, but far from dying, Yuri had returned, even stronger.
With just a flick of his hand, the cadets of the 49th batch were swept away, proving Yuri’s overwhelming strength.
That fact made Yulia feel pleased.
‘As expected, my investment wasn’t wrong!’
She had predicted that Yuri would become a Master and made a bold decision to invest in him.
Now, seeing his growth surpassing even her expectations filled her with joy.
‘So… keep growing like this, our Yuri!’
If he continued at this pace, he would undoubtedly become the youngest Master in history.
Yulia smiled warmly as she watched Yuri smack a cadet on the back of the head with his sword sheath.
However, her smile didn’t last long.
“Pl-please… just kill me already…!”
“Huh?”
Yuri, who had been shaking a cadet by the collar, noticed Yulia smiling and approached her.
He looked at her, standing still without running away, with a curious expression.
“What are you doing?”
“Me? I’m watching.”
“Watching your fellow cadets get beaten up?”
“To be precise, I’m observing how strong you’ve become.”
“Ah? Is that so? How’s it look? Do you like what you see?”
“Of course!”
Yulia nodded with satisfaction, and Yuri returned the same pleased smile.
But his next words were completely opposite to the smile on his face.
“Then, since you’ve seen enough, it’s your turn to get hit.”
“…What?”
Yulia blinked in confusion, wondering if she had misheard.
In the meantime, Yuri had already started striding toward her.
Startled, Yulia began backing away and shouted.
“W-wait!”
Her panic was evident as she waved her hands.
“Why… why are you doing this?!”
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you coming after me too?”
“Is there any reason I shouldn’t?”
“Because I’m your…!”
Before Yulia could finish her sentence, Yuri vanished like a mirage.
At the same time, he appeared like a ghost at her side, whispering softly into her ear.
“What? You’re my business partner?”
“Y-yes!”
The quiet voice spreading through her ear made Yulia nod vigorously.
She was Yuri’s business partner and investor.
That’s why, unlike the others, she believed that Yuri wouldn’t come after her. That’s why she felt at ease.
But it seemed like that was just her own assumption.
*Swoosh.*
Yuri disappeared like a ghost again.
This time, his whisper came from her other ear.
“Come on, we’re not just business partners… We’re secret partners, remember?”
“…?!”
Yulia’s pupils shook as memories from the past flashed through her mind.
[“I’d prefer if it looked like I only joined the Main Circle, even if I join Bluebird.”]
Yuri, who had insisted on remaining a secret member of Bluebird.
She was the one who had accepted that proposal, so how could she forget?
As Yulia recalled the past, Yuri’s excited voice slipped into her ears.
“If I go easy on you here… people will start getting suspicious of our relationship.”
“…”
“And if they find out we’re secret partners, what do you think will happen? So… forgive me for what I’m about to do.”
“Th-that…!”
Yulia tried to protest but fell silent as she saw Yuri’s glaring eyes in front of her.
‘He planned this from the start?!’
Business partners or whatever, Yuri clearly had no intention of sparing her.
“Agh…!”
A dark shadow loomed over Yulia’s pale face.
And shortly after—
“Kyahhh!”
A sharp scream rang out under the clear sky.
—
An hour later.
The third-year residential area was now a wasteland, with no trace of its former self.
At the center of the wreckage, the cadets of the 49th batch lay unconscious in heaps.
And sitting at the top of what looked like a mountain of corpses was Yuri.
“Hmm…”
Yuri surveyed the destruction he had caused and nodded in approval.
“Not bad.”
Honestly, the overall skill level of the 49th batch was even lower than that of the 50th batch.
That was because the 50th batch had grown significantly stronger after being pushed by Yuri for a year.
So fighting with the 49th batch wasn’t much of a challenge for Yuri.
Still, it wasn’t completely useless.
‘It’s bland, but it’s a new flavor.’
A different taste compared to what he was used to.
Some of the martial arts techniques the 49th batch used were interesting enough for him to want to make them his own.
‘At least I won’t get bored for a while.’
Yuri smiled slightly as he thought about his future plans.
At that moment—
*Grab!*
A hand shot out from the pile of bodies and grabbed Yuri’s ankle.
Yuri’s voice came out flatly.
“If you don’t want to practice swordsmanship with your left hand tomorrow, you’d better let go.”
At his warning, the hand quickly flinched and slowly withdrew back into the pile of bodies.
But a head popped up in its place.
“Why… What did we do wrong to deserve this?!”
The one who poked his head out was none other than Jerry.
He stared at Yuri with a mixture of anger and frustration.
Yuri shrugged.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, and I don’t have any complaints.”
“Then why…?”
“Is there a rule that says the 50th batch can’t enter the 49th batch’s area?”
“…”
There wasn’t.
It’s just that no junior ever dared to invade their seniors’ area before.
“Or is there a rule that says the 50th batch can’t pick a fight with the 49th?”
“…”
There wasn’t that rule either.
In the Cradle, hierarchy between cadets was determined by power.
The seniors had spent more time here, accumulating strength, which allowed them to suppress the juniors and maintain their status.
So, with this mess, all the 49th batch could do was blame their own weakness.
“Sigh…”
Jerry let out a long sigh, having nothing left to say to Yuri, and slowly withdrew his head back into the pile of bodies.
But just as he did, Yuri’s voice rang out.
“Anyway, good work today. See you tomorrow.”
At that, the pile of bodies… or rather, the 49th batch, pretending to be unconscious, trembled noticeably.
Jerry, startled, stuck his head back out.
“Wh-what? You’re coming again tomorrow?!”
“Yeah.”
“…Why?”
“Because training needs to be done every day.”
“T-training?”
“Oh, didn’t I say? I’m here to train. I’ve gotten bored of the 50th batch, so I thought I’d train with some new people.”
“…”
“So, let’s get along for a while.”
At those words, Jerry muttered in disbelief.
“This… was training?”
Beating up the entire 49th batch and turning the residential area into ruins was just for training?
And now, they’d have to keep seeing this guy’s face… for a while?
Realizing this, the 49th batch trembled in fear.
The pile of bodies shifted as if an earthquake had hit.
The once-fake pallor of the 49th batch turned genuinely corpse-like.
‘No, this can’t be!’
Jerry screamed internally.
He knew the truth.
If this madman said he’d do it, he meant it.
And unfortunately, the 49th batch didn’t have the strength to stop him.
They were too weak.
‘Then…’
Jerry’s eyes, once filled with despair, now glowed with a grim resolve.
*Thud!*
Jerry reached out and grabbed Yuri’s pant leg.
His voice was grave as he spoke.
“This… feels unfair.”
“Unfair? What is?”
“It would be an honor for my insignificant self to be part of Your Highness’s training. However!”
“…?”
“It is most unfair that only we are allowed to enjoy this honor! If others were to find out, they would surely be very disappointed!”
“Really?”
“Absolutely, Your Highness!”
At Jerry’s exaggerated shout, Yuri couldn’t help but laugh.
How could he not understand what Jerry was getting at?
‘Well… I might as well play along.’
The
49th batch wasn’t enough of a challenge for him to truly train.
It was just past noon, and there was still plenty of time left.
Ending things here would be too boring.
So, with a playful tone, Yuri asked.
“Very well, then. Who do you suggest should share in this honor?”
Without hesitation, Jerry answered.
“The group staying to the east would be most suitable!”
His voice was filled with intense determination.
Nodding, Yuri lightly stretched his body.
“I see. Then I shall grant your request.”
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
With a casual wave of his hand, Yuri strolled away with his hands behind his back.
And so, the disaster moved on.
“Hehehe.”
From the pile of bodies, a deranged laugh echoed.
Followed by a chilling voice.
“…Yeah, let’s all die together.”
The 49th batch was weak, and they knew it.
That much was obvious.
‘But if the opponent is Yuri Holland? That madman?’
In front of that demon, everyone was equally weak.
So…
“Let’s all die together!”
They couldn’t be the only ones to suffer.
That would be too unfair.
“Fuhuhu!”
“Hehehe.”
Jerry’s crazed laughter was joined by the chuckles of the other 49th batch cadets.
And thus, the bomb that Jerry had passed along began to roll toward the east.
—
To the east of the circular arena.
While the first and second years slept in the forest, and the third years lived in tents like refugees.
When you became a fourth year, it was as if all the hardships of the past three years were repaid at once, with drastically improved treatment.
Instead of tents, a large building capable of housing 200 people was designated as their residence, and each cadet was even given their own small room.
In addition, cooked meals, not just rations, were served three times a day, and there was even a personal training room.
The difference in treatment between the first three years and the fourth year was like night and day.
This was a privilege granted to those who had survived the Cradle for three years, a mark of recognition.
Thanks to this, the 48th batch, now fourth years, were enjoying the most comfortable days they’d had since entering the Cradle.
But that didn’t mean they were just resting and relaxing.
After all, if they fell behind in the competition, it would make all their previous struggles meaningless.
There was less time ahead of them than there was behind them. They couldn’t afford to fall now.
So, the 48th batch was pouring all their energy into training, using the time they once spent on survival for their own growth.
Because of this, the fourth-year dormitory, where the 48th batch resided, was as quiet as a grave, as if no one lived there.
The peaceful dormitory saw an unexpected disturbance around 1 p.m.
*Boom!*
With a deafening explosion, the dormitory’s front door was blown off its hinges.
“Kyah!”
“Huh?!”
At that moment, the siblings Loop and Jeroen Krabe, who were passing by, narrowly dodged the flying debris from the door.
As they turned their startled gazes toward the entrance, someone stepped through, backlit by the light.
By now, the 48th batch, startled by the loud explosion, began to emerge one by one.
“What’s going on?”
“Who is it?”
“For god’s sake! Can’t we have some peace?!”
“You’re not the only ones training! Show some consideration!”
The 48th batch, irritated by the interruption to their personal training, wore expressions full of frustration.
The intruder, hands in his pockets and walking with a swagger, stepped into the dormitory.
When the siblings got a clear look at his face, their expressions changed as they shouted.
“It’s you?”
“You?!”
Their voices rang out in shock.
And Yuri, hearing their greeting, responded loudly.
With a completely out-of-place shout.
“Gunther, let’s play!”
—Let’s plaaay-!
His excited voice echoed through the dormitory, carried by mana.