SWNOVELXO Chapter 129 - Bug Catcher (6)
Chapter 129: Bug Catcher (6)
Among the scattered groups of the 50th class, who were resting here and there, sat a gray-haired boy.
Schleiman Hans pulled a small notebook from his pocket.
The notebook, bound in black leather, looked sturdy.
It was an item that Schleiman had painstakingly acquired.
Of course, that didn’t mean the notebook was anything special.
It simply meant that obtaining a notebook in the Cradle was difficult.
In fact, when he got it, it was just an empty notebook.
As he caressed it, Schleiman wore a faint smile.
‘For now, it’s still just an ordinary notebook…’
But as he filled its pages, the notebook would become something special.
And the front part of the notebook was already filled to some extent.
Schleiman opened the notebook.
Rustle-.
As the sturdy cover was turned, the first page of the notebook was revealed.
Name: Yuri Holland
Age: 16
Dragon Plaque: Black Dragon Plaque
Combat Level: Special Grade
Personality: Dirty
Other Notable Details:
Record of the Hundred Steps Ceremony: 15 steps (The highest new record since the Dragon’s Cradle was established)
Known to be acquainted with Arin Helga and Bobikrutankapurtabi.
Presumed to be an orphan.
Presumed to be from the same region as Gunther Irons.
It is suspected that the strange wooden structure that appeared in the northern area is Yuri Holland’s doing.
Calculative, selfish, and said to be greedy.
A short-tempered individual with a bad personality but exceptional skills, making him the person to be most cautious of in the 50th class.
Detailed information about Yuri was densely written there.
Rustle-.
As another page turned, information about Gunther was revealed.
There were also details on Arin and Bobikrutankapurtabi among others, though none were as detailed as Yuri’s.
Flutter-.
The pages of the notebook quickly turned in Schleiman’s hands.
The pages were still almost new, as he hadn’t been gathering information for long.
Thud-.
After quickly flipping through the pages, Schleiman closed the notebook.
His eyes shone brightly.
‘Once this notebook is complete, there will be no one in the Cradle who can stand against me.’
To him, the notebook was not just a collection of paper.
It was the sharpest, most formidable weapon, more potent than any sword.
‘The only power that can surpass martial strength… is information.’
Some say that wealth can buy martial strength.
Others believe that power can command it.
But Schleiman thought differently.
In this era of the Sword Master’s reign, where the system of the strong consuming the weak was perfected,
nothing could surpass martial strength.
Overwhelming strength could allow one to claim another’s wealth as their own.
It could even easily break the necks of those in power.
Thus, Schleiman pondered.
Was there truly a force that could surpass martial strength in this Sword Master’s era?
While he was lost in such thoughts, an incident occurred in the domain where he lived.
A young bounty hunter, barely ten years old, caught a wanted criminal over 190 cm tall.
The wanted criminal, though retired, had received formal military training.
His personal combat ability was significant, which is why no one dared to apprehend him despite the bounty.
People were more eager to avoid him out of fear.
Yet a seemingly frail boy, who appeared weaker than his peers and hadn’t even learned the magic body technique, managed to cut off the head of the notorious wanted criminal.
Furthermore, the way the boy killed the criminal was quite astonishing.
He hid in a tavern’s cesspool and waited until the criminal went to relieve himself before stabbing him.
When this became known, many were astounded by the boy’s ruthlessness, calling him a tough cookie.
However, more than the boy’s persistence in hiding in a stinky toilet for days, Schleiman was surprised by something else.
Schleiman sought out the young bounty hunter and asked how he knew the criminal would use that toilet.
In response, the young boy said,
“Hey, seriously! It’s hard enough dealing with the stench; do you have to pester me too? And if you want an answer, shouldn’t you at least offer something in return? Asking me to tell you for free? Huh?”
…he said, making a circle with his index finger and thumb.
Schleiman then had his butler hand over some gold coins, and only then did the boy reveal the answer.
“It’s nothing much. That guy was a regular at that place, and he drinks himself stupid every time. When he’s drunk, he crashes there. And after observing him for a few days, I noticed that he always orders spicy food as his bar snack. Eating spicy food and drinking so much—do you think his stomach would be okay the next day? No way. It’s straight to the toilet first thing when he wakes up.”
The boy said that after watching the criminal for a few more days and gaining confidence, he hid in the cesspool.
As a result, the boy cut off the head of the feared criminal and claimed the bounty.
“Is that enough? I’m outta here.”
With that, the bounty hunter boy scratched his stench-infested face and left.
After the boy left, Schleiman was in shock, unable to move for a while.
‘That… is nothing much?’
The boy said it was nothing, but young Schleiman didn’t think so.
At that moment, he realized,
‘The only power that can surpass martial strength… is the power of information!’
The driving force that allowed the boy to capture the towering wanted man
was the information he had gathered from observing the wanted man for several days.
That day, the lesson taught by an unnamed bounty hunter boy made Schleiman who he is today.
Clench-.
Schleiman gripped the leather notebook and looked around.
‘So far, everything is proceeding smoothly according to plan.’
Though Yuri Holland’s martial strength seemed stronger than he had anticipated, it wasn’t to the extent of derailing his plan.
‘There are twelve squads left excluding ours.’
Utilizing this strength well to deal with Yuri Holland’s squad was Schleiman’s first plan.
The next would follow with the second plan.
The name of that plan was “Mutual Destruction.”
‘Once they’ve dealt with Yuri Holland, the remaining squads will turn against each other. Gunther’s squad being still around is a slight concern, but…’
Gunther’s squad wasn’t overwhelmingly strong enough to be a decisive factor.
So, what would happen when individuals of similar strength clashed?
‘To win the one and only victory, they’ll target each other.’
Especially if they were all gathered in one place?
And if he stirred the pot just right, it would lead to a massive battle among them.
No, it had to happen that way.
That was the final scenario Schleiman envisioned.
‘A grand fight where I can observe everyone…’
Schleiman’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Why else would he have thrown all those nobodies as sacrifices?
It was because the information about them wasn’t worth noting in his notebook.
Only the information about skilled individuals who had a high probability of confronting him someday was worth writing down in his notebook.
Schleiman had made such a plan.
‘I can forfeit winning this quest.’
Even if he gave up on winning, his goal was to gather as much information as possible.
Schleiman was firmly convinced that the information he gathered would turn out to be more valuable in the long run than winning this quest, and he tucked his notebook back into his chest.
And right at that moment.
Murmur—.
A commotion erupted as a group appeared.
‘Looks like the 2nd Platoon has returned.’
This meant that it was time for the 3rd Platoon, his own, to switch shifts.
Schleiman stood up but felt something odd as he saw the crowd gathering towards the 2nd Platoon, so he approached them.
Cutting through the crowd, Schleiman could see many members of the 2nd Platoon injured.
Those who were unconscious.
Those who were limping from stab wounds.
And even those who had arrows stuck in their limbs.
Although the injuries weren’t severe, about seven members seemed to be hurt.
Schleiman frowned upon seeing this and asked the leader of the 9th squad.
“What happened?”
To his question, the 9th squad leader, Clarice, frowned and answered.
“Can’t you see? It was Yuri Holland.”
“What about those arrows? Did Yuri Holland use a bow too?”
“It was Arin Helga. She was the archer. Her skills were quite good. Anyway, Yuri Holland and Arin Helga ambushed us, exchanged a few bouts, and then fled.”
“Was it just the two of them?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… Did they choose to hit and run?”
“Seems like it. Bobby… Anyway, that big guy isn’t suited for ambushes, so it seems like he’s hanging out with Arin Helga.”
Schleiman nodded in agreement with that opinion.
Then, he patted Clarice on the shoulder.
“You’ve worked hard. We’ll take care of the operations from here on.”
“…….”
Clarice paused as if thinking about something when she felt Schleiman’s hand on her shoulder.
“Alright, take care.”
But she soon erased her expression and turned away.
Watching Clarice’s departing figure, Schleiman took out his notebook and added a few words about ‘Clarice Van’.
Memory is somewhat lacking, but judgment skills seem above average.
Schleiman smiled as he tucked his notebook away again.
‘This isn’t so bad.’
Though he couldn’t gather information on their combat prowess since they were from a different platoon.
Still, with everyone gathered like this, it was easy to collect information on personalities, intellectual levels, and habits.
So Schleiman cheered for Yuri.
‘I need to gather enough information… Don’t get caught too soon, Yuri Holland.’
Schleiman smiled in the direction of the forest where Yuri was likely hiding.
Arin and Yuri, who had stirred up the 2nd Platoon, returned to their hideout.
“Were you guarding the place well?”
“I’m hungry!”
“Aww, our Poppy did a good job!”
Arin praised Poppy, who had been reduced to gatekeeping while they were out, and then looked at Yuri.
Then, finally letting out the curiosity she had been suppressing all this time, she spoke up.
“Yuri Yuri!”
“What.”
“You told me to say it, but… Is that really true?”
“What?”
“The line you told me to memorize.”
Yuri chuckled at her question.
“Oh, that?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, you’re curious?”
“Yeah!”
“I just made it up.”
“……?”
Silence fell in an instant.
As she stared at him, Yuri frowned.
“…Why are you looking at me like I’m rotten fish?”
“Do I look like I wouldn’t? Really? It was just something you made up?”
“Yeah. It was a lie from start to finish.”
“…….”
“Hah! Didn’t it seem flawless? I’m really good at coming up with scripts like that, right?”
“…Is it okay to lie like that? They’ll figure it out soon.”
Seeing Arin’s eyes, which looked at him like she was staring at a swindler, Yuri wiggled his fingers.
“Tsk tsk, naive human. You still don’t get it. Whether the script I made is true or false doesn’t matter.”
“Then?”
“What matters is that I threw a small spark.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Whether they extinguish it or turn it into a big fire is up to them. And I…”
Trailing off, Yuri grinned and continued.
“I’m sure a big fire will break out. Definitely!”
As the 3rd Platoon left after their shift change, several squad leaders gathered discreetly.
The one who had called them together was none other than the 9th squad leader, Clarice Van.
All the squad leaders, except those of the 3rd Platoon who were on duty, were present.
“So, why did you arrange this meeting?”
“Let’s get it over with quickly. I’d like to rest.”
Clarice opened her mouth quietly as she faced the many gazes that seemed to question the purpose of this gathering.
“There’s something I want to hear everyone’s opinion on, so I called you all here.”
Having said that, Clarice gestured towards one side.
Along with her gesture, a boy appeared.
“Who’s that?”
“What’s up with his eye?”
A boy with a bruised eye stood awkwardly beside her, and Clarice nodded her chin at him.
“What you told me earlier… Share that with everyone here.”
The boy nodded and took a step forward, clearing his throat.
“Ahem, my name is Gilbert Becker.”
After the brief introduction, Gilbert pointed at his eye under the intense stares directed at him.
“Can you see this?”
As he felt the audience’s gaze fixed on his bruise, he spoke with a determined expression.
“This is a wound I got after fiercely clashing with Yuri Holland and narrowly losing.”
“…….”
“And the story I’m about to tell is the information I managed to gather by pretending to be unconscious.”
“…Information?”
“Yuri Holland, that bastard, thought I was completely knocked out….”
Gilbert recalled the situation with a serious face as those around him raised their eyebrows.