Chapter 32. Port of Entry (1)

The source of the horn's blare was a black schooner moored far away at the dock.

‘What is that...?’

Even from a distance, the black schooner, with its hull and sails entirely black, was noticeably large.

And as the horn sounded, many people began to gather around.

“Finally it’s open!”

“Hurry up!”

The dock quickly became bustling.

While Yurie stood there in a daze, observing the scene, a voice came from behind her.

“Are you awake?”

The moment she heard the gruff voice, Yurie’s swollen face stung.

Turning her head, she saw Johann, who was drinking from a bottle.

Gulp.

“Ah! It’s good.”

“...Did you have fun making me look like a rag?”

“I should be grateful that it only ended up this way. If it were someone else, I’d probably be six feet under by now.”

“Ugh...”

Johann, using the sight of Yurie trembling as his side dish, took another swig of alcohol.

Wiping the red droplets of alcohol from the corner of his mouth, he said,

“Follow me.”

“Where?”

“Where do you think? Aren’t you going to the cradle?”

Saying this, Johann’s gaze fell on the black schooner.

Yurie blinked and asked,

“Could that... be the ship going to the cradle? For the new cadets?”

“Do you think those people would gather like a swarm of ants for nothing?”

Johann gestured with his chin toward the crowd gathering to board the black schooner.

Yurie let out a sigh of relief.

‘Phew... Good. I’m not late.’

If she had been a little later, she might have missed the ship.

While Yurie was congratulating herself on her miraculous timing, Johann began walking toward the direction of the schooner.

Not wanting to lose sight of Johann, Yurie quickened her pace.

As they got closer to the black schooner, the sounds of numerous conversations began to drift into Yurie’s ears.

“Master, stay strong!”

“Miss, take care of your health!”

“See you in five years!”

People on the dock were waving and seeing them off.

“I’ll be back!”

“I’ll return soon!”

The new cadets, with confident or nervous faces, were boarding the ship one by one.

After watching the people board the ship for a while, Yurie’s head tilted in confusion.

Unable to hold back any longer, she raised her hand.

“Old man, I have a question!”

“What kind of question now?”

While Johann sounded exasperated, he slightly slowed his pace.

Walking alongside him, Yurie rubbed her chin, looking puzzled.

“Old man, are all the people boarding that ship the new 50th batch of cadets for the cradle?”

“Most likely.”

“Then isn’t it a bit... strange?”

From what she could see, at least 200 people had already boarded the ship.

Including those who hadn’t boarded yet, the number of new cadets for this cradle session would be several times that.

However, given the cradle’s characteristic of producing only 20 to 30 graduates per year, it was impossible for so many people to have been recommended by dragon pendants.

‘If so many people were recommended and became new cadets, it would mean that all the graduates from the past ten years recommended them this time.’

It was an absurd notion.

To Yurie’s question, Johann chuckled and replied,

“Tsk, to think you don’t understand the ways of the world.”

“Huh?”

“What do you think those people are like?”

Johann pointed at the people boarding the schooner and those seeing them off.

Yurie’s eyes quickly scanned them again.

People of all ages, from young to old, were seeing them off.

Most of the new 50th batch cadets appeared to be in their teens or twenties.

Despite the variety of people, Yurie found a common thread among them with just a quick glance.

Her answer came without hesitation.

“Golden Goblins.”

“...What’s that?”

Yurie blinked at the question.

“Huh? You don’t know Golden Goblins?”

“What are they?”

“According to legend, there were yellow goblins in ancient times who carried valuable treasures. Catching one would change your life. But nowadays, it’s used to call rich people who are easy to extort.”

“Oh? Why?”

“Just by bumping into them on the street or getting a minor injury from a carriage, you can make enough money to last for months. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a real sucker!”

“...”

Johann was momentarily speechless at Yurie’s explanation.

Feeling a bit awkward under his drowsy gaze, Yurie turned her head and muttered,

“...A mercenary uncle I knew told me.”

“...Did you do it too?”

“Eh! What do you take me for! I just listened to what the mercenary uncle said!”

“Was he really a mercenary uncle? Or just a con artist you knew?”

“No, he wasn’t!”

Yurie vehemently denied it, avoiding eye contact.

Johann was certain.

‘This brat... has done it, hasn’t he?’

What kind of mischief had this young brat, who had only lived for fifteen years, been up to?

What kind of storms must he have weathered to be so jaded?

‘Sigh, I made a mistake. This brat knows the ways of the world all too well!’

Yurie knew very well.

It was just that he had seen the world in a very dark and cynical way.

Johann sighed slightly and nodded.

“Well, even though your analogy was a bit off, you’re right. People like that are often referred to as ‘the rich kids.’”

“So?”

“There are two ways to enter the cradle. First, a recommendation from a graduate’s dragon pendant. Second, a donation recommendation.”

“Donation recommendation?”

“A recommendation letter from a recognized 7th rank or higher practitioner and a donation of five thousand gold. That’s the condition for a donation recommendation. It’s a direct pass without any exams.”

“Five thousand gold?!”

There are countless people who die without ever seeing a single gold piece, let alone a gold fragment.

Five thousand gold!

Yurie’s mouth dropped open at the enormous sum.

“Crazy... They’re willing to spend that much money just to enter the cradle once?”

“Do you know what common misconception rich people have?”

“What?”

“They think that if it’s their bloodline, if it’s their child, they must have talent...”

“Oh?”

“Those kids have grown up with the best teachers and the best ‘cram education’... so much so that they believe they have outstanding talent.”

“...”

“But the growth from such cram education is exposed when they face someone with real talent. They won’t know what real talent is until they experience it firsthand.”

“They have to dive in and get their heads bashed in to realize it.”

“Yeah, hahaha. The cradle offers the donation recommendation to find any real gems that might appear, and also as a small source of income.”

“...For a small source of income, it’s like scooping up gold.”

Just as Yurie’s question was resolved,

The two had reached the stern of the black schooner.

Stopping there, Johann spoke with a serious face.

“Well, this is as far as I go. Although we’re parting ways now, next time...”

“Yeah, I get it. See you next time.”

Before Johann could finish, Yurie waved her hand and moved forward.

Johann, who had been trying to set a mood, grabbed Yurie’s shoulder, looking exasperated.

“Hey, you brat. Even after spending over half a year together, can’t you at least pretend to be a little sad when we part?”

Yurie’s indifferent and annoyed voice came in response to Johann’s scolding.

“What? Can a flying human not even sneak onto an island?”

“...”

“Besides, you’re confident that you can come and go without being noticed, right? That’s why you’re sending me to the cradle, isn’t it?”

“...”

“With your old man’s personality, you’d definitely come and bother me frequently. What’s there to be sad about?”

Johann was speechless because Yurie’s words were spot on.

Snorting, Yurie continued walking.

Suddenly, she seemed to realize something and struck her left palm with her right fist.

“Oh, right! Old man, do you have any essential information about cradle life as a senior from the 2nd batch?”

“...No, I don’t.”

Yurie grinned at Johann’s listless voice.

“What, are you sulking? Do you want me to pretend to be a little sad now?”

“You damn brat, what do you take me for!”

“A sulky old man who failed to create a touching atmosphere.”

“Sulky, old man?”

“Old man, if you’re not sulky, can you at least tell me how to do it? Why do I need you to put in and take out a simple earring?”

“Brat, if it were a simple earring, how could it patch up your punctured bloodline? There’s a proper way to use it, and you can’t do it even if I tell you. Just do as I say.”

“Okay, okay, I understand.”

Seeing Yurie nod half-heartedly, Johann frowned slightly.

‘This brat, even when I’m worried about him!’

Brrrr.

The horn blared again, urging boarding.

Johann’s lips twisted into a sinister smile.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

“What now? They’re telling us to board quickly. If you have something to say, say it fast, old man.”

Yurie, noticing the decreasing number of people boarding, became slightly anxious.

Just as he was about to run, Johann’s low voice reached his ears.

“Do you know exactly what a ‘shari’ is?”

Yurie answered nonchalantly,

“Shari? Isn’t it a gemstone?”

“You’re talking about a gemstone.”

“Then what is it?”

Yurie, still showing little interest, walked forward.

Johann, sending another sinister smile toward the back of Yurie’s head, said,

“Do you really think it’s just a gemstone?”