Chapter 69. Stimulation (2)

The sound of the 50th squad's conversation disappeared with the appearance of the Black Sword Soldiers.

'Here they come.'

'I wonder what they're going to say.'

After regaining consciousness following the White Step ceremony, the 50th squad was informed that the regular assembly would be on Mondays at 9 AM. There was no explanation of what the regular assembly entailed, just that it was a day when they would gather regularly.

On one hand, it was somewhat expected.

Since it was a gathering of the entire 50th squad, there would likely be some announcements.

There was a sense of anticipation that this would provide direction for their future.

Thus, the squad members held their breath and watched the movements of the Black Sword Soldiers.

Thud, thud—

Finally, the Black Sword Soldiers stood in front of the squad members.

At the forefront was a man with a pale complexion and glasses, a face that seemed more suited to a clerk than a soldier.

His cold and stern appearance suggested he was quite conservative.

And that was exactly right.

Click.

Standing in front of the squad members, the Black Sword Soldier with glasses immediately assumed a formal posture and announced in a rigid tone:

"I will make an announcement. On January 20th, Saturday, at 9 AM, there will be a 50th squad integrated quest. Any disadvantages due to tardiness or absence will be borne by the individual. That concludes the announcement. Dismissed!"

Leaving those words behind, the Black Sword Soldier with glasses immediately turned and left.

It was clear to anyone that he was about to depart.

This left the squad members in a state of confusion.

"...That's it?"

"That's the end?"

Some had waited for hours, others for days, for this assembly.

And it was over with just those words.

They were beyond bewildered and frustrated, almost to the point of anger.

A few of them raised their voices in protest.

"What exactly is this quest?"

"You're right! You should explain what the quest is, shouldn't you?"

"You said January 20th, so what are we supposed to do until then?"

Once one person started asking questions, others joined in from all directions.

The Black Sword Soldier with glasses paused for a moment.

Swish.

Turning around, he pushed up his glasses and replied with a sneer.

"Why are you asking me?"

"Excuse me?"

"You still haven't come to your senses."

"..."

"If you're curious about the quest, find out for yourself. If you don't know what to do until January 20th, figure it out on your own. We don't force you to do anything unless it's an official event of the Cradle."

His words were met with a heavy silence.

This was a shocking revelation to the newly appointed squad members.

One of them, filled with indignation, retorted:

"Then... why are we here in the Cradle? If you're not going to tell us or do anything for us! ...Why are we here in the Cradle? What are we supposed to learn here?"

"You're right! Why did we become squad members by passing the Forest of Beginnings... This seems like an unfair treatment!"

As others chimed in with their agreement, the man with glasses snorted.

"Who told you to come?"

"Excuse me?"

"Did someone threaten to kill you with a knife if you didn't enter the Cradle?"

"That... that's..."

"Entering the Cradle was your choice. If you're in the Cradle, follow its ways. If you don't like it, leave. No one will stop you."

"..."

"And the Cradle doesn't do anything for you? That's a joke. This time, I'll correct your foolish thinking."

His sneer deepened.

"The Cradle doesn't do nothing for you. It just doesn't give to just anyone."

"Excuse me?"

"If you want what the Cradle offers, earn the right. Otherwise, you won't get anything from this place."

With his cold logic, the Black Sword Soldier silenced the squad members and quietly disappeared.

The first regular assembly of the 50th squad, which lasted less than five minutes, left them even more confused and disoriented.

Meanwhile, Arin and Poppi, who had been watching from a corner, were also frustrated by the Black Sword Soldier's coldness.

"That's really too much. Can't you at least explain a bit more? Don't you think?"

"I'm hungry!"

Their heads turned to one side, seeking agreement.

"...Huh?"

"...I'm hungry?"

But the person they were looking for had long since vanished without a trace.

Arin was amazed.

"Wow, when did he disappear? He was definitely behind us just a moment ago."

"......?!"

Juri, who had vanished without a trace, left Poppi's pupils shaking.

Click.

A small hand landed on his shoulder.

Turning his head naturally, Poppi saw Arin standing there with a wide smile.

"Want some help finding him?"

"I'm... hungry..."

Poppi's face turned into a frown.

* * *

Juri had quietly retreated to the back as soon as the Black Sword Soldier finished his announcement.

Taking advantage of the confusion and complaints from other squad members, he escaped from Arin and Poppi.

The reason was simple.

'I can't tell them about my hiding place.'

Though they had met, he didn't know why they were hanging around him.

Just a few face-to-face meetings and a few conversations weren't enough to understand their intentions.

He would only reveal his hiding place to people he trusted completely.

Of course, there were very few people Juri had ever trusted.

With Arin and Poppi out of the way, Juri ran into the forest with a relieved expression.

'I have a lot to do, but first, I'll start with setting up my hiding place.'

The first official quest in the Cradle was on the 20th, leaving about 12 days.

He needed to stock up on food and various items in that time.

It would be a tight schedule.

'I'll be quite busy for a while.'

While thinking about his schedule, he arrived at the fissure.

Juri quickly slipped into the fissure.

Tap, tap.

His movements were quite familiar after a few trips.

However, his steps were heading straight for the training ground, not his hiding place.

There was one reason for this.

'Now is the time!'

To finish what he started at dawn.

To steal the luminescent stone.

Juri glanced at Teresa's quarters as he headed to the training ground.

Confirming that there were no signs of movement, he quietly approached the entrance of the training ground.

He was startled by a faint sound coming from inside.

Squeak.

"Could it be...?"

Juri's face stiffened as he entered the training ground with a tense look.

There, Teresa was still thrusting her spear in the same position and posture as he had seen at dawn.

Juri looked at her in surprise.

The same spot.

The same posture.

The only difference was that the black mark on the ground, created by her sweat, was much larger than when he had seen it at dawn.

Squeak.

Seeing her still intensely training despite his presence, Juri was amazed.

'Has she been doing this from dawn until now?'

He was impressed that she could train in one spot for such a long time without moving.

Approaching Teresa slowly, Juri's face stiffened even more as he got closer.

"Hey, Teresa-senpai."

The closer he got, the more he could see her condition.

She looked much thinner than the previous day.

But what surprised Juri the most was that her pupils were dilated.

Like the eyes of a dead fish.

"Could it be...?"

Even as Juri approached from behind, Teresa continued to thrust her spear.

Juri gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

Then.

Thud.

Teresa's figure, which had been thrusting her spear vigorously, collapsed like a house of cards.

Holding her quickly, Juri realized his assumption was correct when he saw her closed eyes.

"Even while losing consciousness... you kept training?"

What kind of determination could make someone continue to thrust a spear even while losing consciousness?

It was just a personal training session, yet she pushed herself to this extent?

And how much had she overworked her body to collapse so easily from just a touch on her shoulder?

'...Could it be?'

Juri muttered, as if realizing something.

"Since yesterday?"

Teresa, who had finished training with him and started her personal training.

Could she have been thrusting her spear without a break since then?

"..."

Juri stared at Teresa's disheveled face, unconscious.

A strange sense of frustration and annoyance crept up inside him.

'Why?'

Juri couldn't understand the source of this frustration and annoyance.

He couldn't figure out why he was feeling these emotions.

But the more he looked at the unconscious Teresa, the deeper the frustration and annoyance grew.

"Hmm..."

Exhaling a long breath to shake off the unknown emotions, Juri placed his hand on Teresa's nose.

'She's not dead, right?'

Relieved to see her breathing, he picked up the deeply sleeping Teresa, drenched in sweat and in a mess.

He couldn't leave her like this, so he decided to carry her to her quarters.

'Before that...'

Juri's eyes glanced up at the ceiling.

A short while later.

Juri, carrying Teresa on his back, had a luminescent stone in his hand as he left the training ground.

Tap!

The light from the luminescent stone revealed Teresa's quarters.

A simple bed made of a few blankets.

A few bowls were all that was in Teresa's quarters.

It was a desolate space