Chapter 57. Birds of a Feather (2)

Aruru-.

"Special treatment for me? Do you really think so?"

Amid the mad dog's welcome, a voice tinged with laughter spread across the deck.

Yuri had a mocking smile.

"Where do you think you're going now?"

No one answered her question.

Yuri, not really expecting any answers, continued speaking alone.

"Here is the Cradle. A place overflowing with wealth more than any bank in the world, and boasting a formidable power greater than any force. Bribery is utterly useless here, and only merit is evaluated. That's the Dragon's Cradle."

"......"

"But do you think the Dragon's Cradle would give special treatment to just any cadet? If you really thought that, go get an IQ test. You morons."

Yuri's harsh words were met with a chill.

Some were so enraged that they reached for their weapons.

But Yuri had no intention of stopping.

"Ah, well, sure. Even if I concede a hundred times, it could happen. After all, the Cradle is run by people, so anything could happen. But... "

Her mouth kept moving without pause.

Now that she had started, Yuri intended to make it clear.

Just who she was.

Yuri exuded a killing aura.

"But, you know, if a cadet did receive special treatment... shouldn't you question the Cradle that gave it? Why are you making a fuss over the wrong person?"

"......"

"And if you're envious of the special treatment, you should try to get it yourself. Whether by taking bribes, using connections... or even licking the Black Sword Corps' ass if nothing else works! You should have made every effort to get that special treatment!"

Yuri's eyes were filled with disdain as she surveyed the surroundings.

"Damn, you idiots. If I were you, I would have asked the guy who got the special treatment how he did it. Tsk."

A heavy silence followed her low, contemptuous voice.

"......"

Of course, not everyone there thought like the pimple-faced boy.

But for some reason, no one immediately rebutted Yuri's sarcastic words.

They somewhat agreed with her.

Even if Yuri's story wasn't entirely right, it wasn't entirely wrong either.

Anyone could see that the pimple-faced boy had started the trouble.

And while Yuri's actions might have been a bit extreme, they could fit the title of a Cradle cadet.

That's what they thought.

But there were those who didn't think that way.

"Even if that's true, your actions just now were excessive."

A heavy voice sounded, and the crowd's attention turned to the back.

The person standing there was none other than Gunther Irons.

Gunther, standing straight, stared intently at Yuri.

Her head tilted slightly at his gaze.

"Excessive? What do you mean?"

"I agree with your thoughts. We are in the Cradle, and such a place wouldn't give special treatment to just any cadet. The Cradle isn't that sloppy."

"But?"

"But just now, you went too far. You could have told that boy with words, just like you did now."

Yuri's eyes, hidden by her long hair, filled with even more disdain.

So, it was unlikely that anything good would come from her mouth.

"Wow? What, are you some smart-ass idiot?"

"...Your words are harsh."

"Or are you some teacher's pet? What, are you going to tell him with words?"

Seeing Gunther's eyes grow sharper, Yuri sighed deeply.

"Ha... Just because we're in the same 50th batch, do you think we're real friends? Why don't you hold hands and get along nicely?"

"......"

"Snap out of it. I'll say it again, this is the Cradle. And those wrapped in the term 'batchmates' are your competitors."

Yuri's finger pointed at the surrounding qualified candidates.

"And thanks to me throwing one of them overboard, we have one less competitor? I thought you'd be grateful enough to bow to me."

Yuri shrugged.

Gunther, with a stern face, responded to her story.

"We are competitors. I don't deny that. I don't even think about denying it. However...!"

Gunther's voice grew stronger.

"We should engage in fair competition. Even if disputes arise during the process, we shouldn't treat each other as enemies and reject each other."

"Why?"

"Because someday... we might need to work together as comrades."

"......"

Yuri's expression changed strangely at his answer.

'Comrades?'

Work together?

These were unfamiliar words to Yuri, who had always survived and fought alone.

So, she couldn't easily respond to Gunther's words.

Though her eyes were hidden by her long hair, Yuri and Gunther stared at each other.

As the heavy atmosphere flowed between them.

Clap clap clap.

The sound of clapping echoed.

Clap clap.

The one who appeared clapping was the one-eyed man.

He had already been watching the situation on the deck.

Appearing late, he alternated his gaze between Yuri and Gunther.

"I heard a heated debate."

People were curious about which side he would support—Yuri or Gunther, with their opposing values.

But the words that came from his mouth were completely different.

"The Cradle, batchmates, and all that. You had quite an interesting discussion. Well, it's fine. It's good."

The one-eyed man swept his gaze over the crowd.

"Talk about that after you become official cadets. Seeing you, who aren't even official cadets yet, talking so freely, I couldn't help but intervene."

A girl was startled and interjected.

"Wait? Weren't we already official cadets? Didn't you say that if we survive until January 1st in the Forest of Beginnings, we become official cadets?!"

Some nodded in agreement.

But the one-eyed man snorted.

"Me? When?"

"Wait?"

"I said that if you survive for a month, you'll become the 50th batch and step onto the Cradle's land."

"That, that's what you meant..."

"What makes you think you can judge that?"

With those words, a menacing aura rose from the one-eyed man.

His cold gaze swept the area.

"What makes you think you can casually interpret my words?"

The mouths of those who were about to argue quickly closed.

The one-eyed man's sneer deepened.

"You'll become official cadets after the initiation ceremony. Until then... let's say you're half-cadets."

"Such... such..."

Ignoring the shocked crowd, the one-eyed man spoke to his subordinate.

"What happened to the guy who fell off the ship?"

"He's fine."

"Were there 301 of the 50th batch who came out of the Forest of Beginnings this time?"

"Yes."

"Good. I was annoyed that there was one too many. Now, thanks to this incident, we have exactly 300. Send that guy back home. The reason... contempt. Who dares to question the Black Sword Corps' handling of affairs? A pathetic kid."

Seeing the person who first raised the special treatment issue being expelled so easily, the crowd was stunned.

Especially those who had agreed with the special treatment issue felt a chill.

Meanwhile, the one-eyed man's gaze fell on Yuri.

"You."

He sighed lightly to himself.

'Here we go again.'

A mere prospective cadet, but whenever there was trouble, he was always at the center.

'If he's already like this... how much more trouble will he cause in the future?'

There were two years left until his position changed.

The one-eyed man wished the two years would pass quickly.

He glared at Yuri and said,

"I won't interfere with what you do once you become official cadets, but until then, you're things I have to manage. Even that idiot you pushed into the water."

The one-eyed man pointed at Yuri with his index finger.

"Since you damaged my property without permission, you'll have to pay the price."

With a light nod, the one-eyed man had his subordinate pick up Yuri's miscellaneous items.

The point pouch and various other items he had given her just a while ago.

The one-eyed man, who had taken them back, smiled.

"I'll take this as the price. Now, dismiss! Don't waste your energy on nonsense, get some sleep!"

The one-eyed man disappeared with a satisfied smile.

At this, Yuri was certain.

'That was deliberate.'

Given his talk of contempt, he clearly didn't like the pimple-faced boy either.

Especially, Yuri's actions were essentially a punishment for the kid who had spouted nonsense on behalf of the Black Sword Corps.

So, the incident just now could have been easily overlooked.

In fact, despite appearing reckless, Yuri had expected something like this to some extent.

But...

'And he takes back what he gave me as a bonus?'

Yuri muttered, looking at the one-eyed man's back, which seemed oddly cheerful, with a sense of absurdity.

"Wow... really, what a grudge."

Just a few minutes ago, she had been thrilled about the free points.

Now, with her belongings taken away, Yuri was left with nothing.

"...He won't give them back, will he?"

Sniff.

She slumped into a corner of the deck with her shoulders drooping.

Sniff sniff.

Yuri, overwhelmed with sorrow, sniffled, unsure if it was tears or snot.

And a little distance away.

Two pairs of eyes, following the pitifully slumped Yuri, shone brightly.

* * *

After the commotion, the voyage continued in a deathly silence.

Especially, it seemed that Yuri's intention to become a 'huge pile of shit' had worked, as her surroundings were eerily empty.

Thanks to this, Yuri could enjoy the peaceful time she had intended.

For a while, that is.

The peaceful time soon faded, and Yuri realized.

"Ha, here we go again..."

There are people in this world who, instead of avoiding shit, deliberately step on it, and they are truly insane.

"Haah..."

At noon, under the blazing sun.

In the broad shade, Yuri sighed deeply.

'...How did it come to this?'

With this question, Yuri tilted her head back.

Then, the entity that cast a large shadow over her revealed itself.

A bronze-skinned, shiny bald head.

A truly enormous build, easily surpassing 2.3 meters.

A black top that had become tattered at the sleeves, revealing brawny arms that looked more like stone blocks.

And the most striking feature was a T-shaped red tattoo running from his forehead, across his brow, to the tip of his nose.

This guy, who looked like a barbarian warrior straight out of a story, appeared after a short time had passed since Yuri's outburst.

Yuri, now widely recognized as the number one lunatic, had become the person everyone avoided, as she had wanted.

Of course, the number of people who disliked her increased exponentially, but she didn't care at all.

In fact, she hoped this situation, this peace, would last a bit longer.

That's when this guy approached her.

[I'm hungry.]

...He said.