Chapter Title: Shedding (2)
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The Croatan Peninsula was known for its terrain resembling a dragon's head.
In particular, the Irones Territory, situated where the dragon's mouth would be, was buzzing with festive excitement.
The one piece of news that had the remote fiefdom in such an uproar was this:
[The young master Gunter will undergo the Dragon's Cradle trial, and it will be open for all to witness!]
A few days prior, this had been officially announced from the lord's castle.
Word spread like wildfire throughout the territory, and people gathered in small groups, chattering about it.
"If it's the Dragon's Cradle trial... the Black Sword Soldiers will come too, right? To think I'd live to see the Black Sword Soldiers."
"Who says otherwise? It's all thanks to the young master!"
"That's true, but... do you think the young master can actually enter the Cradle? They say even renowned geniuses fail the aptitude test. What if our young master..."
"Shut your rotten mouth! As if our young master would fail!"
Fifteen years ago, a baby boy was born into the Irones family.
The territory's heir, named Gunter, had shown extraordinary talent from a young age, earning him fame as a genius.
Time passed...
When the territory's pride, Gunter, declared he would enter the Dragon's Cradle—built by the Sword Lord for the world's geniuses—the people and retainers rejoiced.
"God is watching over our territory, no doubt about it!"
"If the young master follows in the family head's footsteps and returns from the Cradle... the glory of Irones will shine even brighter!"
The current family head had also graduated from the Dragon's Cradle two decades ago.
Because of that, Irones—which had been a meager frontier fief—had risen to become a powerhouse in the Croatan administrative district in just one generation.
All thanks to that single genius from the Cradle.
Moreover, the family head often spoke proudly of his son.
[Gunter's talent surpasses my own.]
A genius acknowledging another genius.
Convinced his son would pass the Cradle's trial, the family head declared the process would be public.
It was a performance to show the people that Irones' glory would endure for generations.
The scheme worked perfectly, filling the entire territory with hopeful fervor.
And then, a rumor leaked from the lord's castle that further heated the atmosphere.
[A renowned Master is staying as the lord's guest!]
Master.
The mere mention of the word carried far more impact than the Cradle trial.
The martial system established after Sword Lord Luke Rider.
It began at Non-Certified Grade 5 and progressed to Non-Certified Grade 1.
Those who surpassed the grade threshold then advanced from Certified 1st Dan, climbing step by step.
Certified 9th Dan was the realm only a handful of geniuses reached after long years of training.
And the glorious title bestowed upon those who shattered limits and transcended 9th Dan was Master.
There were only 22 officially recognized Masters worldwide.
Excluding the superhuman Sword Lord, they were the pinnacle of human strength.
Such a being in this distant frontier!
And right at the time of young master Gunter's Cradle trial!
What else could bring a Master here as the lord's guest?
"Obviously here for the young master, right?"
"Maybe even to take him as a disciple!"
"Hah, our young master as a Master's disciple..."
If that happened, they'd have a strategic asset equivalent to a Master as backing.
"I heard somewhere... some country bumpkin lady from a failing noble house became a Master's disciple and revived her whole family? Total jackpot!"
"If our young master becomes a Master's disciple... we'll dominate all of Croatan!"
The territory grew noisier with mounting hope and excitement.
But in stark contrast to the uproar outside, the atmosphere in the lord's castle was chillingly tense.
"They've left?"
A low voice echoed in the silence.
Its owner was none other than the territory's lord.
Ashraf Irones.
The monarch of Irones, known as the Blue Wolf Sword Tiger.
The steward's head bowed deeply at the lord's stern tone.
"That's confirmed, my lord. The room we provided has been empty since two days ago. We waited, but they haven't returned."
Ashraf's face hardened further at the steward's report that the Master had departed.
Sensing the mood, the steward ventured,
"Shall we send men to track their whereabouts now?"
"No need."
Ashraf shook his head lightly.
"If they've chosen to leave, we couldn't catch them even if we tried."
Regret filled Ashraf's face as he spoke.
'They've left...'
Upon hearing the Master was seeking a disciple, he'd leveraged old ties to arrange a meeting.
He believed Gunter's talent would catch the Master's eye, but the evaluation had been curt.
[The boy's better than his old man.]
That was it.
The Master said nothing more and vanished like the wind, just as he'd arrived.
'Gunter's talent... fell short of the Master's standards, it seems.'
Ashraf struggled to relax his stony expression, forcing his gaze away as he spoke.
"How go the preparations for the trial?"
"Everything is proceeding smoothly."
"See to it personally until the end."
"As you command. I'll withdraw to finalize them."
The steward bowed deeply to his lord and left the study.
"Hmm..."
Ashraf's low groan laid bare his regret and unease.
At that moment, he had no idea.
That the 'Master' he'd thought gone was still within his territory.
And that, as if by fated design, a new connection had formed.
* * *
Early evening in Irones Territory, as deep sunset hues began to blanket the land.
Ding-a-ling-.
"Yuri, come back if more good stuff comes in!"
"We'll see."
A boy took the coin pouch from the herb shop owner and stepped outside.
Black hair and golden eyes.
In contrast to his shabby clothes, pale skin and sharp features.
A beautiful youth with a small tear-shaped mole under his left eye, exuding an enigmatic aura.
Now fifteen, Yuri tucked the coin pouch into his bosom and entered an alley in the market district.
And right then—
"Hey!"
A familiar voice from behind halted Yuri's steps.
"Hah."
With a sigh, he turned around.
Where his gaze landed stood a burly boy with a bushy head of hair.
Yuri's face twisted in annoyance at the sight.
"...You again?"
The boy's name was Dutz.
He was an orphan who'd drifted into Irones Territory before Yuri.
While Yuri roamed alone, Dutz had gathered other orphans and played boss.
He also had an inexplicable habit of picking fights with Yuri.
Their relationship? Bitter enemies, sort of.
Though it was entirely one-sided—Dutz hating Yuri.
'He'd been gone a while, but here we go again.'
As if to prove Yuri's prediction, Dutz grinned, flashing his chipped front tooth.
"You little shit... got you good."
The boy's low voice dripped with threat.
But Yuri just sighed again.
"Hah... what's it this time?"
"This time? This time?! You have the nerve to say that after what you did to my teeth!"
"Then who asked for a fight?"
"Shut up! Today, I'll knock every tooth out of your head! You'll live on soup for the rest of your life!"
No sooner had he spoken than ten kids appeared behind Dutz.
That wasn't all.
Thud-.
Boys clutching clubs emerged from the opposite alley.
Yuri was completely surrounded.
Pleased with the setup, Dutz's grin widened.
"I knew you'd come sell herbs today, so I waited here since morning!"
"Oh? Using your brain for once? Guess that lump on your shoulders isn't just for balancing your fat head."
"...We'll see if you can spout that crap later."
Dutz glared and jerked his chin. The boys closed in on Yuri.
Average age seventeen.
Twenty boys with clubs—enough to overpower several adults in a beatdown.
No one would bet on the scrawny Yuri in a fair fight.
Yet despite the danger, irritation—not fear—showed on Yuri's face.
"You guys born leaving your learning capacity in your mom's womb or what?"
Well, if they had any, they wouldn't keep coming after getting wrecked every time.
Muttering to himself, Yuri quickly scanned his surroundings.
A soft click of his tongue escaped.
"Tch."
They came prepared, alright.
'No real escape route this time.'
Normally, he'd go guerrilla—hit and run—but the narrow alley made that impossible.
'Pig's actually thinking for once.'
A clubbing here would be disastrous.
His only asset was his body.
If he went down, no one to care for him.
He'd just starve to death.
'No choice. Dip in just a little... then pull back.'
He hated the situation, but 'that method' was his only option now.
"Huu..."
Decision made, Yuri closed his eyes briefly and exhaled deeply.
His shadow writhed unnaturally.
But it was over in an instant.
None of his encircling foes noticed.
And then.
Flash-.
Golden eyes gleamed through his lids.
"Let's make this quick."
Or the 'curse' would deepen, and who knew when 'it' might emerge.
Yuri launched himself.
The boys sprang into action.
"Get him!"
"Kill!"
"Argh!"
Boys swung clubs like swords.
Whoosh- whoosh-.
Dodging powerful swings in a tight alley was no easy feat.
But Yuri was different now.
Whoosh-.
He twisted aside from an overhead strike.
Crack-.
And smashed his fist into the attacker's jaw.
Whoosh-.
Ducking a rear attack.
Thud-.
"Ghk?!"
Yuri drove a back kick into the assailant's gut.
Whoosh- whoosh-.
"Uwak!"
Thud- thud-.
"Krgh!"
He effortlessly evaded wild swings, landing punches and kicks.
Each time, one of Dutz's gang hit the dirt.
Dutz, watching from afar, trembled.
'That monster!'
He'd scouted Yuri's usual route and armed up—unlike before.
Should've been enough to teach the brat a lesson.
'What the hell... what is that?!'
To Dutz, Yuri's movements were freakish, alien.
And far beyond the Yuri he knew.
'Eyes in the back of his head or what?!'
How else could he move like that?
A fifteen-year-old street rat doing this?!
In the brief moment Dutz inwardly screamed, all twenty boys lay groaning on the ground.
"Ugh..."
"Urk..."
Yuri stared blankly at Dutz amid the fallen.
Dutz flinched under the gaze, shoulders shaking.
He bit his lip hard.
"Raaah! Die!"
Dutz charged wildly, swinging his club.
Whoosh-.
True to his bulk, the swing howled louder than the others'.
But Yuri sidestepped and punched his solar plexus.
"Guhk?!"
Pain choked Dutz; he collapsed, gasping.
"...?!"
Pale and gaping, Dutz stared.
Yuri squatted before him, patting his cheeks.
"Hey, hey! Breathe, breathe!"
"Puh, pah!"
Only after a dozen pats did Dutz gulp air.
"Kuh, khehk."
Yuri looked pitifully at the drooling mess and spoke.
"Hey, lemme ask you something."
"..."
"Why do you hate me so much?"
It was a question Yuri had long pondered.
He'd never harmed Dutz's crew.
Yet this guy picked fights constantly.
Yuri beat him down each time, like now, but Dutz never quit.
Yuri couldn't fathom why.
"Urgh..."
Curled like a shrimp from gut pain, Dutz glared with a twisted face.
Grit-.
A low growl leaked through clenched teeth.
"Just..."
"Just?"
"Just... I hate you! Same orphan trash as us... acting all high and mighty like you're better! Strutting around!"
Dutz first saw Yuri half a year ago.
While building his crew of similar kids.
He'd invited the newcomer to join.
But the reply was blunt.
[Get lost.]
Short and final.
After, Yuri stayed solo, aloof from all groups.
'That's when it started!'
If asked when he began hating Yuri, Dutz wouldn't hesitate.
The moment their eyes met during that rejection.
"Your eyes..."
"My eyes what?"
"That smug look! What makes you so special?! What sets you apart!"
Dutz's furious shout drained the life from Yuri's golden eyes.
Eyes too mature for a fifteen-year-old.
Indifferent, like that day... no, deeper now.
Chill ran down Dutz's spine.
He squeezed his eyes shut, expecting the worst.
But.
"Is that so?"
Yuri did nothing, just stood.
He looked down at Dutz and spoke.
"You're misunderstanding something. I've never acted superior."
His golden gaze swept Dutz and the fallen boys, dulled like tarnished gold.
"I just..."
He murmured softly.
"Found it all boring."
Yuri shoved hands in pockets and walked off down the alley.
Dutz watched his retreating back in silence.
Soon after, Dutz's crew groaned to their feet.
"Urk, b-boss... let's leave Yuri alone from now on."
"Shut it! How long you gonna lie there? Up, now!"
"Ow!"
Like routed soldiers, Dutz and his gang supported each other out of the alley.
The alley fell silent once more.
From a shadowed corner where no one should be, a small figure slunk out.
It stared after Yuri's vanished direction and muttered.
"A monster in human skin, living in the dragon's maw... Fuhuhu."
The low, gravelly voice brimmed with thick excitement and delight.