LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 234
Chapter 234. I Won’t Hurt You (2)
A slender man was walking leisurely through the northern forest.
Wearing round glasses, he was known as the “Bespectacled Man,” the Black Sword Corps member responsible for the 50th cadet batch.
His sudden appearance startled a few cadets who happened to see him, causing them to flinch and step back.
Ignoring them, the Bespectacled Man hastened his steps toward his destination and finally arrived near it.
‘Is it there?’
In the middle of the forest stood an ominous castle, his destination for the day.
‘…This is my first time seeing it in person.’
Being a Black Sword Corps member responsible for an entire batch of cadets, he was often overwhelmed with various tasks.
Although he had received many reports about the northern area’s so-called “Demon King’s Castle,” this was his first time seeing it in person.
Seeing the castle with his own eyes, he let out a small exclamation.
‘There’s a reason they call it the Demon King’s Castle.’
Whoever named it did an excellent job; it certainly lived up to its name.
He then recalled a phrase from one of the reports.
‘They mentioned the Demon King and the Four Heavenly Kings.’
This was a story that began circulating among the cadets after the Hundred Steps Ceremony.
Yuri, who had taken 51 steps in the ceremony observed by all, had earned the right to challenge the Sword Master.
And his companions—Theresia, Arin, Poppy, and Gunther, who had achieved remarkable results in the recent Great Dragon War—happened to reside in the castle now known as the Demon King’s Castle.
Because of this, the cadets began to refer to Yuri as the Demon King and his four companions as the Four Heavenly Kings.
Knowing Yuri’s nature well, the Bespectacled Man found the nickname quite fitting.
With such idle thoughts, he approached the entrance of the Demon King’s Castle.
Then he suddenly halted.
“Hmm…”
At the entrance of the Demon King’s Castle.
Standing firm in the middle of the dark cavernous entryway was a towering figure.
Like a pillar firmly planted on the ground, his two legs were solid, and his bushy eyebrows formed an exaggerated arch.
With tightly sealed lips and sharp eyes, the large man looked furious as he stood with a massive axe spear planted on the ground.
He resembled a gatekeeper guarding the entrance to hell.
The Bespectacled Man approached the imposing figure.
At that moment—
Boom—.
Seeing the approaching figure, the gatekeeper slammed his spear into the ground and bellowed.
“Stop!”
A resounding voice.
The killing intent in the shout made the Bespectacled Man stop instinctively.
The gatekeeper, seeing this, shouted again with an angry expression.
“This place is a hell filled only with death!”
“……”
“If you don’t wish to hasten your demise, turn back the way you came!”
The gatekeeper’s deep, resonant voice could easily make the faint-hearted flinch.
But as the Bespectacled Man continued to stare at him, the gatekeeper glared harder and spoke with more intensity.
“Hah! Do you still refuse to retreat even after my warning?”
“……”
“Very well! I commend your courage and will open the gates of hell for you. However, if you wish to pass through here, you must place all your belongings into that box.”
The gatekeeper pointed to a wooden box neatly placed to the side.
When the Bespectacled Man glanced at it, the gatekeeper puffed out his chest and continued.
“If you return alive, your belongings will be returned. That is if you manage to come back alive.”
With a sneering look that seemed to question whether the Bespectacled Man could survive inside, the gatekeeper stared him down.
“……”
After silently observing the gatekeeper for a moment, the Bespectacled Man asked.
“Are you a 51st cadet?”
Flinch—.
The man in black had no insignia symbolizing his cadet rank.
Recalling the recent report about a 51st cadet joining the Demon King’s Castle, the Bespectacled Man let out a small sigh and asked the gatekeeper.
“What exactly are you doing here?”
At that question, the gatekeeper’s stern and dignified expression gradually softened.
“Oh, well, that’s…”
Mucci, who had been exuding an aura of intimidation just moments before, scratched the back of his head as he recalled a recent event.
* * *
Yuri had told him not to worry.
Everyone present gave Yuri a look that said, ‘What’s he planning this time?’ as he gazed at Mucci.
“Hey, it’s time you earned your keep.”
“Huh? But… Arin-senpai paid for my meal ticket.”
Mucci looked puzzled, tilting his head in confusion.
Yuri clicked his tongue in irritation.
“Tsk, I’m talking about rent, rent, you idiot!”
“You said it was for food earlier…”
“Ssssk!”
“Yes…”
“Anyway, you didn’t do anything to help build this castle, did you? If you want to stay here, you’ll need to pay your dues. Nothing is free in this cradle.”
Mucci, now understanding, nodded with a naive expression.
“Oh, I see. So what should I do?”
“It’s nothing big. Just put your talents to use.”
“My talents?”
Seeing Mucci tilt his head in confusion, Yuri smiled slyly.
The others, except Mucci, subtly turned their heads away.
They didn’t want to watch the innocent boy being taken advantage of.
Meanwhile, Yuri taught Mucci a few things.
Or rather, it was a form of training.
Arin, watching from the side, whispered softly into Theresia’s ear.
“Yuri said he’d handle it himself, right? So why is he making the youngest do it?”
“He said he’d handle it, not that he’d do it himself.”
“Aha!”
Arin admired Theresia’s perfect grasp of ‘Yurinese.’
* * *
Finishing his recollection, Mucci continued to scratch the back of his head as he replied.
“So, uh… Yuri-hyung, no, Yuri-senpai told me to…”
Before he could finish, a dark figure suddenly sprang up from behind and smacked Mucci on the back of the head.
Smack—!
A crisp and satisfying sound.
Judging by the way Mucci bent forward, it was a pretty strong hit.
“Ow…”
But Mucci, as if he had been bitten by a mosquito, lightly rubbed the spot where he was hit and raised his head with a nonchalant expression.
In front of him stood Yuri, who had appeared out of nowhere, pointing a finger and shouting.
“Hey, you idiot! Didn’t I tell you not to drop the act?! Did I or didn’t I tell you to put your all into the role?”
“But, hyung…”
“Ssssk!”
“Senpai, it’s just… this guy is a Black Sword Corps member, you know?”
“Black Sword Corps or whatever, while you’re standing here, you’re not snotty Mucci but the surly gatekeeper! Aren’t you supposed to be in character?”
“Ugh…”
“Oh, what’s this? Why are you puffing your cheeks like that? You want me to pop them?”
At Yuri’s menacing warning, Mucci’s puffed cheeks deflated instantly.
With his hands shoved in his pockets, Yuri put on a swaggering face and issued another warning.
“I came to check on you, and you’re already slacking off!”
“Ugh…”
“There he goes again?!”
Huff—.
“Anyway, if you want to keep living here with us, you better do your job right. This is your role from now on.”
“Yes…”
“Answer properly.”
“Yes, sir!”
Mucci responded sharply, now on full alert, while Yuri clicked his tongue, still dissatisfied.
Standing there like a sack of barley, completely ignored, was the Bespectacled Man of the Black Sword Corps—despite Yuri’s earlier comment, “Black Sword Corps or whatever.”
After being continuously ignored, the Bespectacled Man furrowed his brows, stepped forward, and spoke.
“Yuri Holland.”
Only then did Yuri turn around and look at him.
Yuri, who had momentarily forgotten about the Bespectacled Man’s presence, blinked and asked.
“What’s up? What brings you here, Mister?”
“…Mister?”
His glasses slid slightly down his nose.
Tap—.
Though he had taken on various tasks in the Black Sword Corps and overseen multiple cadets, this was the first time a cadet had called him “Mister.”
Realizing he had let his surprised expression show, the Bespectacled Man quickly composed himself.
Pushing up his glasses, he glared at Yuri with a stern look.
“Yuri Holland, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”
Yuri waved his hand dismissively.
“Alright, alright.”
“…What do you mean by ‘alright’?”
“That’s why I’ve got a gatekeeper stationed right here.”
Yuri patted Mucci on the back.
Mucci immediately scowled and resumed his menacing stance.
The Bespectacled Man’s expression soured once more.
“…I don’t know what you’re misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding? You came because these newbies without their insignias keep dying around here, right?”
At this, the Bespectacled Man chuckled lightly.
“Why would the Cradle care about that? Even though they haven’t received their insignias yet, they’re already official cadets. Just because a few of them die doesn’t mean the Cradle would care.”
It was true that it was unusual for new cadets to die in such numbers
so quickly.
However, in the Cradle, they were just regular cadets.
Even if all of the 51st batch were to be wiped out at the Demon King’s Castle, the Cradle would not hold Yuri accountable.
Hearing this, Yuri’s face showed relief.
“Right? I thought you were here to manage the new recruits because they keep dying.”
“We’ll monitor the survival rate of the 51st batch. However, that’s the job of the Black Sword Corps, so you don’t need to worry about it.”
“Yes, yes.”
Yuri nodded lightly, and the Bespectacled Man maintained an indifferent demeanor.
While their conversation was routine in the Cradle, Mucci, who listened beside them, felt his face stiffen as he swallowed dryly.
‘So this is… the Cradle?!’
Mucci was aware that his fellow cadets were dying at the Demon King’s Castle.
But he hadn’t expected that the Cradle truly wouldn’t care at all.
At the same time, Mucci realized that everything said before the Hundred Steps Ceremony was true, and the wills written then weren’t just to scare them.
Thus, Mucci became the first of the 51st batch to fully grasp the harsh reality of the Cradle.
Meanwhile, Yuri put his hands in his pockets and tilted his head.
“So then, what brings you here?”
When Yuri asked, the Bespectacled Man glanced briefly at Mucci before replying.
“Follow me; I have something to discuss with you privately.”
He then took the lead, walking ahead.
As the Bespectacled Man disappeared into some bushes, Yuri glared at Mucci.
“Make sure you do your gatekeeping job properly.”
“Yes, sir!”
Mucci responded more nervously than before, satisfying Yuri as he followed after the Bespectacled Man.
As the two disappeared, Mucci continued to perform his assigned task with a stern look.
“……”
A good distance from the Demon King’s Castle.
Rustle—.
Peeking from the bushes, a pair of teal eyes that had been silently watching Mucci slowly withdrew.
* * *
The Bespectacled Man, who had set off first, finally stopped in a small clearing after quite a bit of walking.
‘This should be far enough.’
Confirming that there were no signs of life within his domain, he turned to face Yuri.
Meanwhile, Yuri glanced around and asked.
“What’s so important that you had to bring me all the way out here?”
Unperturbed by Yuri’s insolence, the Bespectacled Man immediately stated his purpose for seeking out Yuri today.
“You’re aware of the Leather Gathering Quest, right?”
“Of course.”
“The Leather Gathering Quest is mandatory for new cadets to establish discipline and order.”
“Of course I know that.”
“…The 51st batch will undergo the Leather Gathering Quest starting tomorrow.”
“So? What’s your point? Can you stop beating around the bush and just say it?”
Yuri crossed his arms, responding indifferently to the Bespectacled Man’s words. His expression changed immediately when the Bespectacled Man made his proposal.
“In this Leather Gathering Quest, Yuri Holland, I want you… to play the tiger.”
Slowly, Yuri uncrossed his arms.
“…Really?”
Yuri’s eyes sparkled beautifully as if holding starlight.