I’m Here to End This Fight

Chapter 218. Changing the Dragon Plaque 2 (3)

After the Great Battle of the Dragons.

Goetz was carried into the infirmary, with no part of him unscathed.

Two days later, when he opened his eyes, he couldn’t even sit up due to internal injuries and had to remain bedridden.

Although his body was quickly recovering, the most he could do was stare blankly at the ceiling, replaying his memories.

“I lost again…”

It had always been this way. Once again, he had lost to Gunther.

And this time, by an overwhelming margin.

“This one hurts a bit.”

It wasn’t just his body that was in pain.

It was his heart.

No matter how indifferent he tried to be to defeat, as long as he was mastering magic body techniques, he could never be free from the sting of losing.

Goetz allowed himself a bitter smile.

“…A sacred sword, wasn’t it?”

The trajectory of Gunther’s sword, which had torn apart the illusion Goetz had created with all his might, was unmistakably that of a sacred sword.

“Even that reached the level of a sacred realm…”

From what he knew, Gunther had reached the 5th rank at the end of last year.

This meant that within just one year, Gunther had broken through and reached the 6th rank.

It was a staggering rate of growth.

“He wasn’t always like this…”

Suddenly, Gunther’s growth had taken a sharp turn.

And Goetz knew all too well what the driving force behind it was.

“So, he’s also been working hard to surpass someone.”

The golden sacred sword that had sent Gunther flying months ago.

Gunther had completed his sacred sword to stand against it.

Just like how Goetz was working hard to surpass Gunther.

At that moment, Goetz suddenly realized something and muttered to himself.

“What happened to the finals…?”

His last memory was of Yuri throwing him to the outskirts of the arena.

After vomiting blood once, Goetz had passed out.

“The outcome must be decided by now.”

He didn’t know exactly how long he had been lying down, but it had to be at least a full day.

If so, Gunther and Yuri’s final match would have already ended.

“Who won?”

Normally, he would have bet on Yuri, but recalling Gunther’s sacred sword that had sent him flying, it was hard to say for certain.

“Well, whoever it was… I missed a good show.”

The showdown between Yuri Holland and Gunther Ryder.

He was feeling quite regretful about missing a match that could possibly go down in the history of the Cradle.

Suddenly, an unexpected voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Curious who won?”

Startled by the voice that had come without a sound, Goetz turned his gaze.

There, leaning against the door with his arms crossed, stood Yuri.

“Owl boy…?”

Goetz blinked, slightly surprised.

After taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he gave a faint chuckle and shook his head slightly.

“No, it’s fine.”

“Why? Didn’t you say you were curious about who won?”

“Seeing the smile on your face, I don’t even need to ask.”

“Ah, I guess my face does look pretty shiny? They say even a ghost that wins in a bet has a glowing complexion.”

“I’ve never heard that one before.”

“Well, now you have.”

Yuri waved his hand dismissively as if saying it wasn’t something worth nitpicking.

Then, he casually lay down on the bed next to Goetz.

“Man, these infirmary beds sure are nice, huh? The Cradle’s tough on cadets, whether they live or die, but they sure set up these infirmary facilities well. I guess even if they don’t care about the dead, they make sure to save those who are on the brink, huh?”

Watching Yuri pat the bed while grumbling, Goetz strained to prop himself up.

“…What brings you here?”

“Why? Am I not allowed?”

“Could it be… you’re here to visit me?”

“Ha, no way.”

Goetz’s expression shifted to one of understanding, as if to say, “I figured.”

“…In times like this, even a lie saying so would be appreciated.”

“I’m not really one for lying.”

“…Really?”

“Probably?”

Goetz sighed lightly at Yuri’s flippant tone.

“So, what’s the real reason for your esteemed visit?”

Yuri sprang up as if bouncing off a spring at Goetz’s pressing question.

“You know the Primordial Association?”

“Know it? I’m a part of it myself.”

“Oh? Looks like I came to the right person! I heard you’re from a fairly prominent family, and I guess it’s true?”

“My family’s quite reputable. So… why bring it up all of a sudden?”

“Oh, it’s nothing major. Just that the leader or whatever of the Primordial Association tried to recruit me.”

Slipping away from Andres and Julia during their heated argument, Yuri had come to find Goetz.

He briefly explained what had happened.

Hearing this, many thoughts flickered through Goetz’s mind.

“From the Primordial Association? Recruiting you?”

Then, Goetz gave a bitter smile.

“Seems like they plan to pit you against Gunther by recruiting you.”

Knowing the usual atmosphere of the Primordial Association, Goetz instantly understood why they were trying to enlist Yuri.

He then gave some sincere advice.

“Don’t join.”

“Hm?”

“They’ll just use you however they see fit.”

Yuri replied while picking at his ear.

“What are you talking about? Why would I turn down a good opportunity?”

“Hm?”

“You know what mistake those who think they’re so great and end up screwing others often make?”

“What is it?”

“They never imagine they might end up being the ones screwed over.”

“……”

“And by the time they realize their plan’s gone wrong, it’s usually after getting hit in the back of the head. So, here’s what I’m saying…”

Yuri looked at Goetz with a meaningful gaze.

“You should be my spy.”

Goetz’s eyes widened at the unexpected suggestion.

“A… spy? Me?”

“Who else am I talking to? Who else is here besides you?”

“That’s true, but… huh… You want me to spy on the Primordial Association?”

Goetz clicked his tongue in disbelief.

He didn’t have any particular affection or sense of duty towards the Primordial Association.

But being a spy? That didn’t sit well with him.

“Hmmm… While it does sound like it could be fun, why should I?”

Yuri made a simple gesture with his chin.

“Because you’re lying there.”

“…?”

Goetz tilted his head, unsure what Yuri meant.

Yuri elaborated a bit more.

“Who do you think you have to thank for being able to lie there, comfortably breathing and chatting with me?”

“…”

“The fact that you’re here, lying with your feet stretched out… Who do you think that’s thanks to?”

“…You mean I owe you my life.”

“Glad you catch on quickly.”

Goetz smirked bitterly at Yuri’s resolute tone.

“Indeed… one could say I owe my life.”

If Yuri Holland hadn’t thrown him to the outskirts of the arena, Goetz might have lost his life caught in the aftermath of the finals.

In the end, Goetz let out a small sigh and spoke with a resigned tone.

“If I can repay my life debt by being a spy, then it’s a cheap price to pay.”

“Oh? Quick on the math, huh?”

“In exchange, I have a condition.”

Yuri’s brow furrowed immediately.

“That’s not a very fitting response. Where does it say you get to set terms for repaying a life debt?”

“It’s not as if I had no role in helping you beat Gunther, you know? I did wear him down a bit.”

“Had no effect, none whatsoever. You got knocked out so quickly. Gunther was still in top shape.”

“…That hurt more than getting hit by Gunther.”

Goetz sighed, his expression gloomy.

He couldn’t argue because it was true that he had been knocked out in an instant.

“Then, instead of a condition… as repayment for the life debt, let’s add a new debt on top.”

“You want to owe me again? My interest rates are pretty steep. You sure about this?”

“Absolutely.”

Finally, Yuri relaxed his brow and smiled brightly.

“What’s the condition?”

“If I fully recover, you’ll fight me.”

“You mean a spar?”

“Yes. Until I leave the Cradle… once a year, I want you to spar with me.”

Goetz’s eyes shone clearly as he spoke.

“Gunther didn’t manage to surpass Yuri Holland in the end.”

So Gunther would continue to grow rapidly, always aiming for Yuri Holland.

And Goetz might find himself chasing Gunther.

No, he surely would.

“If I do it that way, I’ll never surpass Gunther.”

So, Goetz changed his target.

Instead of chasing Gunther, he would chase the one Gunther was pursuing.

On the other hand, Yuri looked at Goetz with an unexpectedly curious gaze.

“Hmmm…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I thought you’d ask me to set you up with Arin or something, but this is an unexpected condition.”

“Ah, so you knew? That I liked her?”

“Who wouldn’t? You’re always fumbling around her. Not asking me to help with Arin, but to spar with you?”

“I’m not so pathetic as to make a woman I gave my heart to a condition.”

Yuri stared at the earnest Goetz for a moment.

Then, he nodded.

“Well, alright. Sparring once a year… doesn’t sound

bad.”

In fact, Yuri found it rather favorable.

He’d been wanting to study Goetz’s illusionary sword more thoroughly anyway.

“But I’ll decide when the debt gets settled.”

“No objections.”

“Great, it’s a deal.”

With Yuri’s agreement, Goetz’s face brightened slightly as he asked.

“So, as your spy, what do you need me to do?”

Yuri’s eyes sparkled at Goetz’s question.

—

Having shaken hands with Yuri, Goetz began to report his results.

“Owl boy, the Primordial Association agreed to give you what you wanted.”

“What grade?”

“Special.”

“Wow, seriously? There’s such a thing? I thought the highest was top grade.”

“Special grade items can only be purchased from fourth-year stores and above, and the prices are eye-watering, so they’re rarely seen. Most cadets graduate without even knowing they exist.”

“Oh?”

“Moreover, special grade elixirs are rare even within the Primordial Association. Originally, there was talk of giving you top grade, but I insisted on special grade. Ahem!”

“Well, good job.”

“…That’s some stingy praise for the effort I put in.”

Goetz grumbled, but Yuri was lost in his own thoughts.

“A special grade mana elixir, huh.”

Even high-grade mana elixirs cost a whopping 10 million points.

So how much would a special grade elixir, not even top grade, cost?

“At least in the billions, I’d bet.”

And that amount wasn’t something easily accumulated, even by higher-ranking cadets, unless under exceptional circumstances.

Furthermore, not many would constantly maintain such an amount in their accounts for when a special grade elixir became available.

“If so, it means the Primordial Association has some public funds, and they’ve been stocking up on elixirs in advance.”

It would be stranger if it weren’t the case.

Considering it was a well-known organization within the Cradle, they must have operating funds and such.

At that moment, Yuri felt a strong conviction in his thoughts.

“That public fund is the power of the Primordial Association.”

It made perfect sense.

Would it make sense for the Association to wield such great influence just because it consisted of scions of prestigious families?

But let’s think differently.

What if the descendants of prestigious families, who had been continuously entering the Cradle, left their remaining points to the Primordial Association upon graduation?

If that continued for nearly 50 years?

The accumulated amount would be enormous.

“And the Primordial Association uses those accumulated points to support newly arriving descendants of prestigious families.”

With this cycle repeating, the influence of the Primordial Association would naturally grow larger and larger.

“A privilege that only prestigious families capable of consistently passing the Cradle’s proof test can enjoy, and then they pass that privilege on to their descendants, preserving the power of the prestigious families.”

Senior members of prestigious families guiding their juniors.

Those juniors then guiding another generation.

That cycle continues, perpetuating the power of prestigious families.

That was exactly what Yuri had surmised upon witnessing Andres and Julia’s argument.

And then, a thought struck Yuri.

“Wait… if that’s the case…”

Yuri set his sights on a grand objective.

“The points that have been passed down by the Primordial Association over nearly 50 years… they must go into the leader’s account.”

If so, those points would be off-limits to him.

But.

“The Association’s warehouse is a different story.”

Whether it be elixirs or other valuable items.

They would be acquired with public funds and wouldn’t be used immediately, so there would be a separate storage for them.

So, Yuri…

“I’ll raid that warehouse!”

Naturally decided on robbery.