I’m Here to End This Fight

Chapter 233: I Won’t Hurt You (1)

The story rewinds to a time shortly after the Hundred Steps Ceremony had ended.

The newest batch, the 51st class, had just become official cadets, and their first task, just like their seniors before them, was to find their own living quarters.

The 49th class, who had been sharing the northern area with the 50th class, had now moved on to the western residences as third-years.

With the hideouts now vacant, the eighty or so members of the 51st class were busy scrambling to claim them.

As they roamed around the northern area, exploring every corner, these boys and girls inevitably discovered a bizarre structure not far from the coliseum.

The reactions among the 51st class were divided into a few categories.

First, there were those who, upon seeing the ominous and eerie castle sitting in the forest, took a step back and retreated. These were the perfectly normal individuals.

Next, there were those who approached out of curiosity to investigate the castle’s identity, but upon seeing the blood-red warning sign at the entrance, shuddered and moved elsewhere. They were also normal, albeit with a slightly higher level of curiosity.

However, the last group was where things got a bit troublesome.

There are always those kinds of people in the world.

The stubborn ones, who are more inclined to do something precisely because they are told not to.

The types who overestimate their abilities and delude themselves into thinking they are clever.

Just like this boy.

Standing before the Demon King’s Castle was a boy with blonde hair, a chiseled face, and a sturdy build.

“Interesting.”

Like most in the Cradle, he had been called a prodigy since childhood.

He had known only success, rarely failure, and grew up amidst constant praise. He had finally earned the Golden Dragon Plaque and became a full-fledged cadet of the Cradle.

Upon seeing the blood-red warning that seemed to invite only those with a death wish, the boy snickered.

He quickly wiped the smile off his face and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

‘Is this part of the Cradle’s facilities?’

According to the information he had gathered, the northern area was meant for first and second-year cadets.

So why was such a structure standing so boldly in that place?

As he pondered over the identity of the bizarre castle, a thought suddenly struck him.

‘Ah, I see! This is… a test!’

The ominous exterior and the blood-red sign were deliberately designed to evoke an immediate sense of rejection.

It was a clear message to stay away.

Based on the information he had, the boy analyzed the current situation and his eyes gleamed.

‘Sure, they told us to fend for ourselves, but still, the Cradle is providing some opportunities for survival!’

The boy recalled something his father had once told him.

[“There is always an opportunity hidden within every crisis.”]

Remembering his father’s words, his face lit up with joy.

‘I think Father is right!’

If his guess was correct, this unsettling castle might just contain essential supplies and a hideout.

‘Why else would they deliberately make it inaccessible? Courage to challenge a place no one else dares to approach! The reward given to those who break through danger and adversity! Yes, this is exactly that kind of test!’

The boy felt a strong conviction.

‘Besides, what better hideout could there be than a place no one dares to approach…?’

Thus, conquering that ominous castle and securing its supplies and hideout would be his first achievement in the Cradle.

With that belief, the boy made a firm resolve and cautiously stepped into the castle.

‘Let’s go!’

Thud—

Barely a few steps in, a thick, gloomy air engulfed him.

But the boy pressed on without wavering.

Thud, thud—

After taking a few more steps.

In the darkness, a forked path appeared before him.

‘Hmm… Which way should I go?’

The boy hesitated for a while.

‘Alright, this way!’

Trusting his intuition, he chose the left path.

Creak—

With his sword tightly gripped, the boy advanced cautiously through a wide passage.

He heightened all his senses, ready for any unforeseen events.

Any trap.

Any ambush.

The boy was confident that he could respond immediately to whatever came his way.

Thud, thud, thud—

After taking a few more careful steps forward.

Until then, the boy had no idea.

That his choice.

The simple decision between the left and right paths…

That 50% chance…

Swish—

Would seal his fate.

‘Huh?’

In the briefest of moments.

In the eternal instant where life and death intersect, the boy saw a silver flash and a fountain of blood.

And then…

‘My… body?’

There stood his body, strangely noticeable and conspicuously still.

Thus, the first would-be suicide of the Demon King’s Castle had occurred.

Unfortunately, the tragedy did not end with just one incident.

Three days after Yuri woke up.

To celebrate both Mucci’s welcome party and Yuri’s recovery, the residents of the Demon King’s Castle gathered for the first time in a long while.

Including the youngest, Mucci, who had already blended in perfectly with the group in just a few days, everyone seemed to be having a great time.

Except for one person.

Thud—

Yuri set down a plate of food on the large dining table.

Wearing an apron of unknown origin, he looked quite disgruntled.

Eventually, watching the others laugh and chat without him, he voiced his complaints.

“Hey, isn’t this gathering supposed to be in celebration of my recovery?”

“Yeah, probably?”

“I’m hungry.”

As soon as Yuri put down the plate, Arin and Poppy immediately grabbed some food and stuffed it into their mouths.

With their cheeks bulging, they absentmindedly nodded, which made Yuri glare at them and shout.

“Why am I the only one cooking like a dog for a gathering that’s supposed to be for me? Hey, you pig bastards, stop stuffing your faces!”

“I paid for my meal ticket! And I paid for Mucci’s too!”

“I’m hungry!”

“I paid too. We’re just eating what we rightfully paid for.”

With Gunther adding to the conversation, the veins on Yuri’s forehead started to bulge.

“Yeah, I know you all paid fairly for your food… But since this is a celebration for my recovery, you should eat in moderation! If you keep eating like this, I’m going to collapse again, you bastards!”

Despite Yuri’s booming complaint, the group didn’t slow down, continuing to use their chopsticks as if they hadn’t eaten in days.

With his eyebrows furrowing in frustration, Yuri glanced around.

Arin and Poppy were ravenously shoving food into their mouths.

Gunther, bringing his own personal plate, was neatly stacking his share of the food.

Mucci, sneaking quick glances, also devoured his food at a rapid pace.

And then.

Munch munch—

Theresia, quietly eating, yet doing so faster than even the ravenous duo.

Yuri’s gaze landed on her, and his head tilted slightly to the side.

“…Tesha, why are you here?”

Theresia, diligently chewing, swallowed her food and widened her eyes.

“Huh? What?”

“I’m asking why a third-year is here. Weren’t you supposed to move to the third-year residence?”

Arin was the one to answer that question.

“Tesha said the food they serve there is terrible, so she came back.”

Theresia didn’t deny it.

Instead, she added further explanation.

“Where would I even go? I never actually left. I was just curious about the third-year residence, so I went to check it out for a bit.”

“…So, how was it?”

“It’s just a bunch of tents grouped together. Honestly, it’s better to stay here than live there. I think a decent place to live doesn’t show up until the fourth or fifth-year residence.”

“…….”

Yuri let out a deep sigh at her nonchalant response.

Yuri, now resigned to whatever would happen, spoke up.

“Leave some for me! You heartless gluttons!”

He then joined the food battle on the table before all the food was devoured by the piggies.

Munch munch—

For a while, only the sound of chewing could be heard.

When all the plates on the table were finally empty, and everyone was wearing a satisfied smile, it happened.

Screech!

A sudden scream of agony pierced their ears.

And it came from the direction of Yuri’s residence.

Gunther, frowning, let out a sigh.

“…Someone snuck in again.”

Despite the glaring warning signs to stay away, people still stubbornly barged in. What on earth were they thinking?

“How dim-witted are they? Ugh…”

Joining Gunther’s heavy sigh, Arin chimed in.

“Ugh… Do we have to go clear out another body?”

“I’m hungry.”

Poppy clasped his hands together in a moment of silence toward the direction of the scream.

Mucci, now pale with fear, watched his seniors’ reactions.

Meanwhile, Theresia turned to Yuri and asked.

“Can’t you just turn off the traps in the passage near your residence? That’s the fifth person already. At this rate, there won’t be many left in the 51st class.”

Yuri’s response to Theresia’s concern was brief.

“Nope, can’t do.”

“…Then at least lower the lethality a bit.”

“Yeah, can’t do that either.”

“You… really.”

Theresia shot him a glare, but Yuri shrugged as if he was the one being wronged.

“Hey, it’s not that I don’t want to, I literally can’t.”

“……?”

“Even I can’t touch that now.”

“Why not?”

“…Because it scares me now.”

“…….”

Yuri’s voice dwindled as he spoke, drawing a silent pause from everyone.

Soon after, Arin shouted on behalf of the group.

“Hey, you crazy bastard! What the hell did you make?!”

Everyone nodded in unison, and countless dumbfounded stares were thrown his way.

Yuri awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

‘I didn’t intend for it to go this far…’

The castle he designed had multiple rooms, and the passages connecting these rooms were filled with all sorts of traps.

These traps were ostensibly set to deal with intruders.

Only those who built the Demon King’s Castle, including Yuri, knew their locations and how to disable them.

Among all the passages in the Demon King’s Castle, the most dangerous traps were set along the path leading to Yuri’s residence.

The paths to Yuri’s residence from the castle numbered four.

Three were exposed pathways, and the remaining one was a secret route. Those three exposed paths were the deadliest in the Demon King’s Castle.

Even the rest of his companions, except Yuri, couldn’t access that place.

The reason things had reached this point was simple.

[“That damn old man, let’s see if he can dodge this one.”]

[“That seems a bit weak, don’t you think? We should switch to this.”]

[“Shall we? Oh, yeah, this is good! Hehe!”]

[“With this, even he’ll have to run with sweat on his soles. Haha!”]

Johan’s only reason for coming to this castle was to meet Yuri.

Yuri and Segyung, who were both furious and desperate to catch him somehow, kept adding traps.

However, each time, Johan gleefully broke through their traps.

The more he succeeded, the more Yuri and Segyung’s eyes sparkled with madness.

[“Let’s kill him… We’re going to kill him!”]

[“It’s too weak. This is too weak! What if we plant explosives?”]

Because of that, the traps’ power and lethality increased by the day.

After several months had passed…

The passage leading to Yuri’s residence.

In other words, Johan Redner’s exclusive path, had evolved to the point where even those who had set the traps found them difficult to meddle with again.

The problem was, the two who were engulfed in madness didn’t stop there; they went even further.

[“Doesn’t it feel… a bit lacking?”]

[“You think so too?”]

[“If we add just a bit more, it feels like something could really work, right?”]

[“I think so too, but…”]

[“Hmm… There seems to be some space behind that pillar, doesn’t there?”]

[“Should we… add more?”]

[“Let’s do it!”]

When the two finally came to their senses, they had already crossed a point of no return.

Nevertheless, whether due to their insane efforts or not, the traps had evolved to the point of causing even Johan serious trouble.

Everyone vividly remembered.

Johan’s enraged outcry as he clutched his torn trousers.

[“You crazy bastards, as fellow men, do you have no shame?! I almost ended up with just one nut, you damn, senseless idiots!”]

‘I mean, he barely used it anyway, so wouldn’t losing one be fine?’ Yuri, who nearly became impotent himself, clearly remembered that moment.

Given the situation, it was only natural that those who boldly stepped into the Demon King’s Castle would end up as corpses.

But clearing away bodies once or twice was enough.

With it happening repeatedly, a solution was urgently needed.

As everyone was pondering what to do.

Yuri clicked his tongue and spoke.

“Tsk, why is everyone so worried? It’s no big deal.”

“…….”

Did that really just come out of your mouth?

Or something like, whose fault do you think this is?

Everyone stared daggers at him, but Yuri skillfully brushed it off.

Then, with a smirk, he spoke.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”

“…….”

The group fell silent.

It was perhaps a natural instinct that being told not to worry only made them worry more.