Chapter 70. Provocation (3)

Yuri closed the cave entrance to prevent the light from leaking out.

When she turned around, she saw Johan snoring with his nose running, sprawled out on the only bed.

"Your hospitality is really lacking. What are you doing, not even bringing out something to eat?"

Thump thump—

With his legs crossed and his nose fiercely running, he sat in a carefree posture.

Seeing this familiar sight for the first time in a long while, Yuri sighed.

'...I must have lost my mind for a moment.'

To be happy to see this rude old man of all people.

Shaking her head in disgust, Yuri sat in front of Johan.

"Did you manage to find out I was here and come looking for me?"

"Even if you tried to hide, do you think I couldn't find you on this tiny island? So, what about something to eat?"

"This doesn't seem like a tiny island to me?"

"Hmph, my boogers are just a bit bigger than usual. Bring out something to eat, will you?"

Saying this, Johan flicked his finger, which had been digging his nose.

Sure enough, a large booger flew out.

Seeing the booger stick to the cave wall, Yuri scowled.

"Ah, really disgusting! And stop asking for food! I only got here yesterday! How could I have anything to eat?"

"If there's nothing to eat, at least bring me a glass of water to wet my throat."

"I don't have that either?"

"Really, what kind of place is this? You don't have anything?"

"......"

"Ts-ts, what a shabby place."

"......"

Yuri seriously pondered.

Should she confront this old man once again after so long?

While she was thinking, Johan also observed her.

'You've grown.'

Yuri had been away from him for a little over a month.

And in that month, she had grown as quickly as he had predicted.

'Your mana has increased significantly. Where did you get it from?'

But what had changed the most was the confidence in Yuri's eyes.

'Something must have happened.'

Lying on his side, Johan said to her.

"Tsk, forget about the food. Tell me what you've been up to for the past month."

"About what happened in the Cradle? ...Can I just talk about it freely? I did sign a confidentiality agreement, you know?"

"Who would think you actually follow such things?"

"Why are you like this? To someone who has lived so innocently and purely!"

"You're just being dramatic, and besides, you signed it, not me. If you get caught, only you will suffer."

"...If I get caught by the Black Sword Disease, I'll definitely mention your name."

"Go ahead, I've had my fair share of run-ins with them. And if I try to run, no one can catch me unless the Sword Master intervenes."

"...Can't you take me with you when you run?"

"Depends on what you do. Are you going to tell me or not?"

"Tch."

Yuri pouted.

Although she grumbled, she had intended to tell Johan everything.

'After all, I just need to avoid talking about it outside the Cradle, right?'

Since they were inside the Cradle, Yuri rationalized and began to speak.

"Well, so... let me tell you..."

Starting with the Forest of Beginnings and the Dragon Scale Shedding, Yuri began her story.

Johan's lips twitched slightly as he listened.

"Wow, it's been a while since I heard about this! The Forest of Beginnings and Dragon Scale Shedding..."

"Eh? Did you have these things back then?"

"Of course! The first generation brats tormented us so much, even though they never experienced it themselves. Even now, after nearly fifty years, those memories are still vivid! First generation bastards!"

"Even you were tormented by the first generation?"

"Who, me? No way!"

"I just thought you probably weren't."

"Of course not! Instead, I made the first generation brats who got in my way suffer! But my classmates and friends back then had a tough time, so I got angry on their behalf..."

"You don't have any friends, old man."

"......"

"......"

Silence enveloped them for a moment.

Then Johan asked in a low voice.

"...Do you have any?"

"......"

The silence between them grew longer.

It was broken when Yuri spoke again.

"Old man, I... saw the Sword Master."

"What?!"

So surprised, Johan, who hadn't moved until now, suddenly sat up.

"Where?"

"At the Hundred Steps Ceremony."

"Hundred Steps Ceremony? What's that?"

"It seems it didn't exist in your time?"

"I've never heard of it. Explain it to me."

At his urging, Yuri began her story.

What the Hundred Steps Ceremony was.

What she had done there.

Johan, who had listened to this, said bluntly.

"Fifteen steps? Just that?"

"...I'm sorry, but just fifteen steps is all I managed."

"No, technically, it was ten steps, right? You walked them on your own without the mana current."

"...If you keep making such bone-chilling remarks, I won't want to talk anymore."

Seeing Yuri pout, Johan chuckled.

Then he asked in a serious tone.

"How did it feel to meet the Sword Master, whom you've only heard about?"

"......"

At this question, Yuri fell silent for a moment.

After a brief silence, she answered sincerely.

"He was strong. Terrifyingly so."

"Haha."

Johan laughed roughly at Yuri's answer.

Then he said sharply.

"So are you going to give up? You said you wanted to take his place, to be the strongest in the world except for him. Did you think you couldn't do it after seeing the Sword Master?"

"I don't know."

"You're scared, aren't you?"

"Back when I was naive, I did see the Sword Master as a giant mountain from a distance and thought it would be easy to climb. But when I actually got to the base of the mountain, I was shocked by the unseen summit."

"But... even so, don't you think you should at least try to climb it? I plan to think step by step about how to conquer this monstrous mountain called the Sword Master."

"Is that why you wanted such a reward? To participate in that Hundred Steps Ceremony every year?"

"The opportunity to challenge the Sword Master four more times without risking my life, and the chance to see how much I've grown each year through the Sword Master. I just thought it was the best reward I could get from this Cradle."

It was a voice filled with sincerity.

Moreover, Johan could feel the unextinguished passion in Yuri's golden eyes.

'Your spirit hasn't been broken.'

If Yuri's will had been broken by the Sword Master, she wouldn't have thought about participating in the Hundred Steps Ceremony every year.

The words "That's enough" rose to his throat, but Johan barely swallowed them.

Instead, he said with a teasing tone.

"Brat, trying to act cool. Do you think what you saw is all there is to the Sword Master?"

Confused, Yuri asked.

"What do you mean?"

"The Sword Master... that monster is more conservative and traditional than you think. If the Hundred Steps Ceremony started decades ago, the ceremony you experienced a few days ago was probably at the same level as back then. That way, it can serve as a standard to gauge the level of newbies."

"......?!"

Yuri's pupils dilated.

She asked in a slightly trembling voice.

"So... the Sword Master I saw was at the level from decades ago?"

The image of the Sword Master, who had dyed the sky red, came to Yuri's mind.

'If that was the level from decades ago... what is the current Sword Master like?'

Seeing Yuri's shocked and stiffened expression, Johan clicked his tongue.

"Why are you surprised? Did you think the Sword Master was just that strong?"

"It didn't seem like just that strong..."

"Just that strong. The Sword Master was already a fully formed monster decades ago. And that monster has been cultivating his power for decades. What do you think his current level is?"

"......"

"That's why I created the mana current. There's no way to defeat that old monster with ordinary methods."

"...Instead of supporting a budding sprout, you're just crushing my will. What a rotten old man."

"Haha, you need to understand. The old monster I'm trying to defeat, and the one you'll face in the future, can't be judged by ordinary standards."

"......"

Yuri didn't respond to Johan's warning.

Instead, she deeply engraved it in her heart.

Deeply, so it would never be erased.

Meanwhile, Johan casually threw in a comment.

"Well done."

"Huh?"

Yuri blinked in surprise.

In front of her was a smiling Johan.

"Managing not to use the mana current to the fullest in the Hundred Steps Ceremony, testing your limits, and securing the opportunity to challenge the Sword Master every year as a reward. Excellent judgment."

"Really?"

Yuri, stunned by Johan's praise, soon felt a wave of sadness wash over her face.

"Old man... are you in a lot of pain?"

"......?"

"Or are you about to die? Why are you doing something you never did before?"

"......"

"If that's the case, I'll make sure to leave your estate to me in your will..."

Snap!

"Hey!"

Yuri, who had finally snapped, clutched her head and rolled on the ground.

Seeing her pitiful state, Johan clicked his tongue.

"Tsk, what did I see in this brat to teach him my life's masterpiece, the mana current? How will he ever complete it like this!"

"I'm trying my best!"

"Trying my ass. You've only been here for a short time, and you're already getting into romantic affairs!"

"Romantic affairs? Me? When?"

"I saw you hugging some girl just now."

"...When did you get here?"

How long had he been here to see all of that?

Yuri, holding her forehead, looked at Johan in disbelief.

At that moment, Yuri remembered the trajectory of the white spear that had resisted the mana current yesterday.

"Old man, do you know about a spear technique called Drunken Spear?"

"Drunken Spear? If you mean the Drunken Spear of the Winchester family... are you talking about that?"

"Eh? Yes, the person who used it had the surname Winchester. Are they famous?"

At Yuri's question, Johan gave her a look of disdain.

"Haven't you heard of the Winchester of Briwell?"

"Oh? They must be a prominent family."

"They are. The strongest family in the Briwell administrative district. And what's most famous about them is..."

"......?"

"They are a crazy family that dreams of piercing the sky with a single spear."

"Well, when people can fly, piercing the sky isn't that big of a deal."

"Brat, after I taught you something good, you dare to compare the Redner family's ultimate technique to some spear trick!"

"If I tell this person when they wake up, I'll pass on your words. That Johan Redner belittled their family's ultimate technique, calling it a spear trick."

"Do it or don't. I'll win in a fight anyway."

"You're just like a gangster."

"Brat... wait, so the girl you were hugging earlier was from the Winchester family?"

"I didn't hug her, I just carried her. Anyway, yes, she's from the Winchester family."

"If she's from the Winchester family and is the right age to be in the Cradle... it must be her. T... T... what was her name again?"

"Theresa Winchester."

"Yes, that girl!"

"Do you know her?"

"I've heard the story. Her aunt consulted me a few times."

"Consulted? Why?"

"Don't you know?"

"Know what?"

"If you were hugging her so closely, she probably would have told you."

"What, are you kidding me! Hugging? We just exchanged a few spear and sword techniques!"

Looking at Yuri, who was denying it, with a lazy gaze, Johan said.

"Either way, just admit it if you did."

"Y... You...!"

Yuri, trembling with anger, calmed herself and asked.

"Anyway, what did her aunt consult you about?"

"Tsk, you're so stupid. I shouldn't have brought it up. Of course, the consultation was related to that T... Theresa girl."

"What was it about?"

"Hmm..."

He stroked his chin as if pondering, then spoke.

"Well, it's not really a secret since it's already all over the place, but don't show any reaction in front of her."

"Alright, just tell me what it was."

"Theresa, that girl, was quite famous in the Briwell administrative district. As a freak of the Winchester family."

"...What?"

Yuri's eyes widened in shock at this unexpected story.