Chapter 45. Dragon Badge Exchange (4)

Most people would probably think that this Dragon Badge Exchange is a festival and a time of reward for second-year students.

Yuri thought so at first too.

But it wasn't.

There was one thing.

A reward prepared by the Cradle for the probationary students.

'No, is this a reward for me?'

Yuri's realization was accidental.

He only made a guess based on a clue that slipped out during a conversation with Jerry.

Yuri wasn't 100% sure that 'that' was the reward the Cradle had prepared for the probationary students.

Even now, as he ran south, it was the same.

Still, the reason Yuri ran was because he was confident that he could get his hands on that item.

'Whether it's a reward for the probationary students or not, I just need to get it by any means necessary, right?'

That's why Yuri chose to come out into the forest where the Dragon Badge Exchange was in full swing, rather than hiding safely.

To get the gift that no one else could.

Yuri's eyes shone brightly in the darkness.

'I have to reach the target point without causing any commotion.'

By now, many of the 49th batch students must have been on edge, trying to catch the hollow golden goblins that offered no points.

In such a situation, Yuri, carrying a large wooden box, would have seemed very suspicious.

There was no need to create unnecessary trouble, so Yuri had to move without drawing attention.

Swoosh.

Yuri moved stealthily, darting from tree to tree, weaving through the darkness.

A red light flashed in Yuri's eyes as he placed the wooden box he was carrying on the ground and drew his sword.

Seeing this, Teresa's eyes glinted with a cold light.

"I hope that wasn't just a coincidence."

With that warning, she pushed off the ground with her legs.

Crack.

The pebbles under Teresa's feet shattered under the pressure.

The weight that had been pulled back suddenly shifted forward.

The force of her push sent her body hurtling forward.

Swoosh.

A sound like an arrow being fired accompanied Teresa's charge.

At the same time, her figure blurred and disappeared.

The moment Teresa crossed the stream, the sharp tip of her spear was already aiming for Yuri's leg.

'What, aiming for the same spot again?'

Was the failure of her previous attack a blow to her pride?

Teresa aimed for the same spot again.

Moreover, there was no hesitation in her attack.

She thrust her spear with the sole intention of piercing her opponent.

Of course, Yuri wasn't going to just take it.

Swish.

Yuri's figure wavered like a spring mist.

At that moment, Teresa's pupils trembled in surprise.

Her spear pierced through what seemed to be Yuri's leg.

Or so it appeared.

Clang!

The leg that seemed to be pierced was unharmed, and his sword flashed like lightning.

Teresa's spear shaft was knocked back, but it quickly curved like a snake, aiming for Yuri's leg again.

'Persistent!'

Yuri responded calmly.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Yuri's sword strikes deflected the spear's trajectory three times.

When Yuri pressed into the spear's path, Teresa retreated this time.

The entire exchange took only about three seconds.

It was a rapid exchange that an ordinary person couldn't even follow with their eyes, but it wasn't even a full effort from either of them.

Just a light probing battle.

The two, having tested each other, stood about 4 meters apart, eyeing each other.

The silence was broken by Teresa.

"It wasn't a coincidence... it was skill."

The skill of the boy with the long bangs was real.

Although they had only exchanged a few blows, it was enough to gauge his skill.

'At least a White Dragon Badge or higher.'

Anyone who could parry her attack so easily must be at least a White Dragon Badge holder among the probationary students.

A faint smile spread across Teresa's lips.

'What good luck.'

Her goal in this Dragon Badge Exchange was to shed the label of a Yellow Dragon Badge holder.

And ideally, to obtain at least a Gold Dragon Badge.

For that, she needed luck.

The luck to meet a higher badge holder in this vast Forest of Beginnings, a rare probability.

How could she not be pleased to meet someone she suspected to be a White Dragon Badge holder?

Yuri shrugged at Teresa's faint smile.

"Of course, it's my skill."

"Is that so? You're a probationary student, right?"

"Have you ever seen anyone like me in the 49th batch?"

"No."

"Then I must be a probationary student."

Yuri's lips, the only part visible under his bangs, twisted slightly.

Teresa's brow furrowed at the sight.

"I'm from the 49th batch. If you pass this test, you'll be in the 50th batch."

"So?"

"Show proper respect to your seniors."

"Is that important when we're trying to cut each other down?"

"It is. That's the way of the Cradle."

"Hmm, is that so?"

Yuri nodded slightly, rubbing his chin.

'This place, the Cradle, is really strange.'

Even while trying to cut each other down, they were still concerned about seniority.

It was even more absurd that this continued outside the Cradle.

Yuri nodded roughly.

"Fine. If I'm in the Cradle, I should follow its rules. But, Senior Teresa..."

He paused for a moment.

Yuri's hidden eyes quickly scanned the surroundings.

Teresa, who had crossed the stream.

The distance between him and Teresa.

And the location of the wooden box.

A provocative smile spread across Yuri's lips as he finished his calculations.

"Hmm, Senior Teresa... That name really doesn't roll off the tongue. Anyway, Senior Tessa."

"What?"

Teresa's brow furrowed at Yuri's playful tone.

Regardless of her expression, Yuri continued to call her 'Tessa' stubbornly.

While doing so, he subtly moved his legs toward the wooden box he had put down to fight Teresa.

At the same time, he didn't forget to keep her distracted with his chatter.

"Do you dislike being called Tessa? Senior?"

"..."

"Why? It's short, easy to remember... and cute."

"Stop it if you don't want to regret it. That's a warning."

"Why? Tessa. Tessa. Tessa. Tessa. Tessa. Tessaa!"

The moment Yuri's teasing went too far, a cold aura surged in Teresa's eyes.

"Clearly..."

A chilling voice escaped Teresa's lips.

"I warned you not to do something you'd regret."

Teresa's body tensed again, her upper body leaning back.

Her waist bent like a bow.

The spear in her hand resembled an arrow on the bowstring.

Then.

Clang.

Like an arrow released from a bow, Teresa's spear shot forward.

At the same time, her figure disappeared along with the spear.

The Winchester family's secret martial technique.

Shadow Bullet (弾影, Dan'ei).

A warning bell rang in Yuri's mind.

'She's fast!'

Teresa's weapon was a spear.

Moreover, the only real opponent Yuri had faced, Mutsu, was also a spear user.

But their approaches were completely different.

Mutsu, who inherited Ralph Schnell's physical abilities, used a spear technique that combined brute strength with skill to crush opponents.

Teresa, on the other hand, used a spear technique that combined elegance with extreme speed to pierce opponents.

From Yuri's perspective, Teresa might be even more difficult to deal with.

And that fact only excited him more.

'So, you're confident in your speed?'

The moment Teresa disappeared into the shadow of her spear, a small lightning spark appeared around Yuri's body.

'But what can I do? I can't lose in speed either.'

The Redner family's secret martial technique.

Lightning Wings (雷翼, Raiyoku).

Crack.

A bright light flashed, and Yuri's figure also vanished completely.