SWNOVELXO Chapter 69 - Stimulation (2)
Chapter 69: Stimulation (2)
The chatter among the 50th class fell silent at the appearance of the Black Sword Corps.
‘They’re here.’
‘What are they going to say?’
After the Hundred Steps Ceremony, the 50th class, who had regained consciousness, were informed only that the regular gathering would be held on Monday and that they should assemble by 9 a.m.
There was no explanation as to what the regular gathering was.
They merely assumed that it was a day to gather regularly, just as the name suggested.
On the other hand, they felt a sense of anticipation.
Since the entire 50th class was being gathered, there must be some announcement.
They hoped it would provide direction on how they should proceed.
Because of this, the cadets held their breath and watched the movements of the Black Sword Corps.
Tap, tap, tap.
Finally, a member of the Black Sword Corps stood before the cadets.
Leading them was a pale man with glasses.
He looked more like a clerk than a member of the Black Sword Corps.
His face appeared cold and calculating, giving the impression that he was quite conservative.
And that impression was spot on.
Snap!
Standing before the cadets, the bespectacled member of the Black Sword Corps quickly assumed a position of attention.
In a stiff tone, he shouted out an announcement.
“I will now make an announcement. On Saturday, January 20th, at 9 a.m., there will be a unified quest for the 50th class. You will bear the consequences of any tardiness or absence. This concludes the announcement. Dismissed!”
With that, the bespectacled member of the Black Sword Corps turned and walked away.
Anyone could see that he intended to leave immediately.
The cadets were understandably taken aback.
“…That’s it?”
“Is that really it?”
Some had waited for this gathering for hours, and others for days.
And it ended with just that statement?
They were not just shocked but also angry.
Some quickly raised their voices in protest.
“What exactly is this quest?”
“That’s right! Shouldn’t you at least explain what the quest is?”
“You said it’s on January 20th, but what are we supposed to do until then?”
As soon as one person opened the floodgates of questions, more poured in from others.
The bespectacled member of the Black Sword Corps halted his steps momentarily.
Shwip!
He turned around, adjusted his glasses, and replied with a sneer.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re still not thinking straight.”
“……”
“If you’re curious about what the quest is, find out for yourself, and if you don’t know what to do until January 20th, figure out how to pass the time. Unless it’s an official event of the Cradle, we won’t force you to do anything.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a heavy silence fell over the group.
This was a shocking statement for those who had just become cadets.
That’s why someone among them responded with a voice full of resentment.
“Then… Then why are we here at the Cradle? If you won’t tell us anything or do anything for us! …Why did we even come to the Cradle? What exactly are we supposed to learn here?”
“That’s right! We went through the Forest of Beginnings and became cadets, but this seems too harsh!”
As voices of agreement arose from all around, the bespectacled man sneered.
“Did someone tell you to come here?”
“Pardon?”
“Did someone hold a sword to your neck and threaten to kill you if you didn’t enter the Cradle?”
“Th-that’s…”
“Coming to the Dragon’s Cradle was your choice. And once you’re here, follow the Cradle’s ways. If you don’t like it, then don’t whine to me—just leave the Cradle. No one will stop you.”
“……”
“And as for the idea that the Cradle doesn’t do anything for you? That’s laughable. This time, I’ll correct that foolish notion of yours.”
The bespectacled man’s sneer deepened.
“It’s not that the Cradle doesn’t do anything for you. It simply doesn’t offer anything to just anyone.”
“What?”
“If you want to receive what the Cradle has to offer, earn it. Otherwise, you won’t gain anything from this place.”
Silencing the cadets with his cold logic, the Black Sword Corps member turned away indifferently and disappeared.
The first regular gathering of the 50th class ended in less than five minutes.
As a result, the 50th class, who had not yet adjusted to the Cradle, fell into even greater confusion.
Meanwhile, watching the scene from a corner were Arin and Poppy.
“That’s really harsh. Couldn’t they have explained a little more? Don’t you think?”
“I’m hungry!”
They, too, were displeased with the coldness of the Black Sword Corps.
The two turned their heads to one side.
They did so to seek agreement from someone.
“…Huh?”
“…Hungry?”
However, the one who might have agreed with them had long since disappeared without a trace.
Arin marveled at this.
“Wow, when did he vanish? He was definitely just behind us a moment ago.”
“……?!”
Yuri had disappeared without them noticing.
Poppy’s pupils trembled at this realization.
Tap.
A small hand rested on his shoulder.
Poppy’s head turned naturally, and there was Arin, smiling brightly.
“Shall I help you find him?”
“I’m… I’m hungry…”
Poppy’s face turned into a frown.
Yuri had quietly retreated as soon as the Black Sword Corps finished their announcement.
Taking advantage of the chaos as other cadets voiced their complaints, he escaped from Arin and Poppy.
His reason was simple.
‘I can’t let those two know about my hideout.’
Though he had exchanged greetings with them, he didn’t understand why they kept hanging around him.
After all, they had only seen each other a few times and exchanged a few words, so there was no way he could know their intentions.
Yuri had no intention of revealing his hideout to anyone unless he could trust them completely.
Of course, the number of people Yuri had trusted throughout his life could be counted on one hand.
Having shaken off the clingy Arin and Poppy, Yuri ran through the forest with a refreshed expression.
‘There’s a lot to do, but I’ll start by setting up my hideout.’
The Cradle’s first official quest would take place on the 20th.
There were about 12 days left until then.
In that time, he needed to set up his hideout, stock up on food, and gather various supplies.
Time was going to be tight.
‘I’m going to be pretty busy for a while.’
While thinking about his upcoming schedule, Yuri soon arrived at the crack.
He quickly slipped into the crack.
Tap tap.
Having come and gone several times, Yuri had grown quite accustomed to the movements.
However, instead of heading to his dwelling, his steps led directly to the training ground.
The reason was simple.
‘Now’s the time!’
To finish what he couldn’t in the early morning.
Specifically, to steal the luminous stone.
As Yuri headed toward the training ground, he glanced at Theresia’s quarters.
Confirming there was no sign of anyone inside, he quietly approached the entrance of the training ground.
But then, he was startled by a faint sound coming from within.
Shhk-
“No way…?”
Yuri’s face stiffened as he entered the training ground with anxious eyes.
There she was, still thrusting her spear in the exact same stance as when he saw her earlier in the morning.
Yuri stared at her in shock.
The same position.
The same posture.
The only difference was the spot where Theresia was standing.
The dark stain formed by her sweat had grown much larger than it had been when Yuri had seen it earlier.
Shhk-
Seeing her still engrossed in her training despite his presence, Yuri clicked his tongue.
“Has she been at it since dawn?”
He was amazed at the fact that she could train in the same spot without moving for such a long time. Slowly, he approached Theresia.
“Hey, Teshya-senpai.”
But the closer Yuri got to her, the more his face hardened.
“……”
Now that he was closer, he could see Theresia’s condition more clearly.
She looked much more emaciated compared to the day before.
But what shocked Yuri the most was the state of her pupils, which were unfocused.
They looked like the eyes of a dead fish.
“No way…?”
Even though Yuri was standing right behind her, Theresia continued to thrust her spear.
Cautiously, Yuri placed his hand on her shoulder.
And then…
Thud.
Theresia, who had been diligently thrusting her spear, collapsed as if it were all a lie.
As Yuri hastily caught her, he saw that her eyes were closed, confirming his suspicion.
“She lost consciousness… and kept training?”
What kind of determination drives someone to continue thrusting a spear even after losing consciousness?
This was just personal training, so why go to such lengths?
And how much did she push herself to the point where she collapsed just from having her shoulder touched?
‘…No way?’
Realizing something, Yuri mumbled in a daze.
“Since yesterday?”
Theresia had entered personal training after finishing their sparring session.
Could she have been thrusting her spear non-stop since then?
“……”
Yuri stared blankly at Theresia’s exhausted face as she lay unconscious.
For some reason, a strange sense of frustration and irritation welled up within him.
‘Why?’
Yuri couldn’t figure out the cause of this frustration and irritation.
He had no idea why he was suddenly overwhelmed by these emotions.
He only knew that looking at Theresia in her unconscious state made those feelings grow stronger.
“Hoo…”
Letting out a long sigh, Yuri tried to shake off the unknown emotions as he placed his hand near Theresia’s nose.
‘She’s not dead, is she?’
Fortunately, he could feel her breathing, so it seemed she wasn’t dead.
Theresia was drenched in sweat, deeply asleep in her disheveled state.
Yuri couldn’t just leave her like this, so he carefully lifted her onto his back.
He intended to take her back to her quarters.
‘But before that…’
Yuri’s eyes glanced briefly at the ceiling.
A little while later, Yuri emerged from the training ground with Theresia on his back, holding a luminous stone that shone brightly in his hand.
Tap!
When he reached Theresia’s quarters, the light from the luminous stone illuminated the space.
A simple bed made by layering a few blankets.
Aside from that, there were only a few dishes in the otherwise desolate quarters.
It was hard to believe she had been living here all this time.
“……”
Yuri laid Theresia down on the blankets and stared at her for a moment.
The inexplicable frustration and irritation still lingered.
In the end, Yuri turned and left Theresia’s quarters.
But the moment he returned to his own hideout, his face stiffened.
Yuri immediately drew his sword.
‘An intruder!’
There were clear footprints on the cave floor that did not belong to him.
But these footprints were a bit unusual.
‘Only… one footprint?’
There was only a left footprint on the cave floor.
The rest were small marks, as if made by a cane.
‘…Could it be?’
Startled, Yuri brought the luminous stone forward.
As the cave slowly filled with light, the first thing that appeared was an old wooden prosthetic leg.
Creak.
And then, an aged voice followed.
“Hey, where have you been wandering around? I’ve been waiting for quite a while!”
Hearing the familiar, lazy voice, Yuri couldn’t help but smile faintly.
“If you’re that upset, maybe you should set up a meeting time in the future.”
“You little brat. That rotten attitude of yours still hasn’t improved. Tsk tsk.”
With a short click of his tongue, Johan Redner fully emerged from the light.