I Have Come To End This Fight

Episode 38. Cold weather survival (4)

Yuri’s expression became serious at the sound of footsteps coming from the aisle.

‘I only noticed the sound of footsteps as they got closer.’

For the past ten days, Yuri wasn’t just focusing on gathering food.

As much as gathering food, the work he was focusing on was setting traps in the hideout.

A trap that is hard to see from the outside of the hideout, but is set to activate if you take even one step into the cave.

Although it was not enough to threaten the lives of those who had mastered the martial arts, it was powerful enough to annoy them.

And this would serve as a kind of alarm, informing Yuri of the existence of an intruder.

However, even though an intruder occurred, there was no sign that the trap had been triggered.

This meant two cases.

First, that the intruder was fully aware of the existence of the trap and did not touch it.

‘Or, I’m strong enough to ignore the traps I’ve set up.’

Judging from the intense air waves that slowly approached, it seemed like the second case.

‘He’s a trembling strong guy. Was there such a talented person among the reserve jockeys?’

The approaching intruder was clearly showing his energy, as if he had no intention of hiding.

Indeed, Yuri was convinced of the overwhelming energy.

That intruder was something he could not handle.

It means that he is a person who far exceeds his own abilities.

‘What should I do? Do you check who your opponent is? Or just run away like this?’

One of the most important elements of a hiding place in Yuri’s opinion.

That was the way out.

Even now, if you run to the emergency exit prepared in advance, you will be able to escape.

However, there was also a desire to confirm who the reserve jockey radiates this much energy.

Because there will be no more valuable information in the future than the existence of a strong enemy that one cannot deal with.

‘Intruders do not live. then… … .’

A little trouble and a quick decision.

And the action that followed was even faster.

Yuri grabbed a couple of ignited logs from the campfire and threw them into the passageway of the cave.

At the same time, he extinguished the rest of the campfire and quickly moved to one side of the cave, holding his breath.

It took only about 5 seconds to get there.

Yuri hid in the dark and stared at the entrance with fierce eyes.

A glass that does not let go of tension.

Kwok-.

By the time the hand holding the sword hilt was slightly strained.

Jerk-.

At the end of the aisle, in the pale light from the wood fire, black boots entered first.

And finally the intruder was fully revealed.

Seeing him, Yuri’s brow twitched slightly.

‘Why is that person?’

The identity of the intruder was none other than the one-eyed Black Swordsman.

Yuri observed the opponent with calm eyes.

At the same time, it quietly shifted its center of gravity backwards.

If the one-eyed man shows any reaction, always turn your back and run away.

Shuk-.

The one-eyed man’s head turned.

His gaze, which scanned the entire cave, stopped at a certain point.

The glass at the edge of his gaze hardened his face.

‘I’m looking here!’

The one-eyed man pierced the darkness and accurately identified his location.

Yuri immediately tried to run away.

at that time.

“Stop it, Yuri Holland.”

A voice stopped Yuri’s steps.

At the same time, the heavy energy transmitted from the entrance of the cave disappeared as if it had been washed away.

It was a change of attitude, as if I was expressing that I had no intention of hurting you.

However, Yuri did not let go of her guard.

Seeing that, the one-eyed man smiled.

“Take it.”

After saying that, he pulled something from his waist and threw it at Yuri.

Yuri caught something flying at a slow speed as if snatching it.

Iron grunt-.

It was a small cloth bag with something in it.

‘What is this?’

Yuri looked at the one-eyed man with suspicious eyes.

Yuri’s eyes, as if asking what’s going on right now, the man who caresses… … .

Jerk-.

Without a word, I turned my back and went back the way I had come.

Yuri, who had been watching the scene blankly, muttered as if it were absurd.

“… What are you a human doing, that?”

* * *

Remnants of traps scattered here and there were kicked and rolled by the returning one-eyed man.

The one-eyed man stared blankly at the traps strewn in the aisle.

‘I installed a lot in just a few days.’

Although it is not a deadly trap, the linkages set up in anticipation of the intruder’s next move were very good.

Another reserve jockey… No, even the riders of the cradle would have enough power to eat them.

The one-eyed man remembered the person who set the trap.

‘Yuri Holland… … .’

The reason the one-eyed man entered the forest of beginnings today was to deliver something to the reserve rider.

Of course, originally, the one-eyed man would not have been involved in such a thing.

It was inefficient for him, the general manager, to act on such trivial matters.

Nevertheless, the reason he moved directly was because of a reserve jockey named Yuri Holland.

The tenth black dragon rout.

and… … .

‘A disciple of John Redner.’

I was curious about what kind of reserve rider he was, so he, the vice-captain of the Black Sword Corps, moved himself.

And the one-eyed man briefly commented on Yuri Holland, who he saw in person.

“He’s a funny guy.”

A perfectly concealed hiding place.

Survival skills to withstand the harsh winter.

The level of traps set to deter intruders.

Even if you look at those three things, he was a qualitatively different guy from the many idiots wandering in the forest right now.

However, the factor that the man rated higher than those was the judgment that Yuri showed earlier.

The wits to extinguish the bonfire and toss the wood fire into the aisle to get information about the intruder.

At the same time, he conceals himself in the darkness and is precise to widen the distance from the enemy.

There… … .

‘It was definitely the emergency passage that he had his back on. If I showed even the slightest sign of attack, I would have run away right away.’

Yuri Holland clearly noticed that the intruder’s skills were beyond his control.

‘So it must have been a plan to properly figure out who the opponent was and run away.’

The bold judgment to abandon the hard-earned survival supplies and shelter and run away.

Even though he said he let his energy flow, the process of preparing for the intruder continued like water, and it all happened within seconds.

It would not be possible to move so swiftly unless it was a fairly quick judgment.

‘At least it’s not chaff with the reputation of Johann Redner on its back.’

That’s what I liked about the one-eyed man.

And one more thing.

What I liked more was that he seemed greedy.

The one-eyed man had a fishy smile on his face when he remembered Yuri Holland’s hideout and the excessive amount of goods piled up there.

“In the cradle, the only thing as important as talent is desire.”

* * *

It was only when he felt that the intruder’s energy had completely disappeared that he regained his vigilance.

He stared blankly at the pockets in his hands.

The item that the black swordsman who appeared out of nowhere handed over to him.

Shuk-.

When I untied the string that tied the opening of the cloth bag, the contents inside were easily revealed.

‘This… … ?’

Iron grunt-.

From the first time I received the pouch, I had a certain feeling.

The thing in the pocket is made of metal.

And the actual thing I checked with my own two eyes was a small silver coin.

“silver?”

The continent’s common currency was a gold coin called gold and a silver coin called silver.

However, this silver coin was not a common currency used on the continent.

I took out one of the silver coins through which the glass clinked and examined it.

The size and shape is round, about 5 cm in diameter.

And a 1 cm square hole in the center.

‘A silver coin with a hole… … .’

The unique features didn’t end there.

Yuri flipped the silver coin alternately.

“Hmm… … .”

On one side, there was a picture of two swords crossing in the shape of an X, and on the other side, the number 10,000 was elaborately crafted.

Nowhere else on the continent have silver coins like this been used.

A total of 10 such silver coins.

‘I don’t think it’s just a meaningless thing, right?’

The level of craftsmanship was considerable to think that it was meaningless.

In addition, the fact that it was brought in as part of it meant that it had a use.

‘What does this mean?’

Too little information given.

Items given without any explanation.

Perhaps finding its use is the beginning.

Ting-.

Yuri flicked the silver coin with his thumb.

A silver coin that fell while spinning in the air.

Grabbing it and bouncing it up again with his thumb, Yuri asked himself a question.

‘Was it only me who got this?’

The answer to that question was ‘probably not’.

‘You called me by my name. That must mean that he came to know that this is my hiding place.’

In other words, this meant that the Black Swordsman was aware of the reserve rider’s movements.

I wouldn’t be doing something like that for no purpose.

‘Trends of some key figures… Maybe he’s monitoring all reserve riders. Assuming that the same thing as me was passed on to those who were identified like that… … .’

Then why the hell did you give me this thing?

What to do with this?

Ting-.

The corner of Yuri’s mouth slightly curled up as she received the silver coin that had been beaten once more.

He brought his nose to the silver coin.

sniff-.

‘It smells, it smells.’

A deep smile spread across Yuri’s lips as she twitched her nostrils.

Of course, the only thing I felt with my real sense of smell was the thick metallic smell.

However, Yuri’s instinctive sense of smell caught a different scent.

‘Are you sure. This… It smells like money!’

Yuri’s sensitive touch was talking.

This unique silver coin.

This is an item that becomes ‘money’ in the Forest of Beginnings or the Dragon’s Cradle.

‘Something that makes money… Was it sprayed on multiple reserve riders at the same time?’

In Yuri’s head, Pababat- sparks flew.

At the same time, he felt a hollowing out of his stomach, which had been stuffy for the past few days.

Because I finally realized.

The identity of the awkwardness that has been bothering him for the past few days.

What have you been missing all along?

In addition, Yuri understood at once why the Black Swordsman had scattered this object.

‘compete… It was a competition!’

The survival test that began as soon as you entered the Forest of Beginnings.

There wasn’t much of a problem with that method.

However, he should have dug deeper into the fact that Yoram was the subject of the test.

The dragon’s cradle is an arena of constant competition and growth.

In the survival test of such a cradle, the element of competition was missing.

Of course, preempting resources necessary for survival could be called competition.

However, in the Dragon’s Cradle, would that amount be treated as ‘competition’?

But today, the Black Swordsmen scattered ‘things that make money’.

‘Maybe this money thing can really be used as currency or it can serve as a score that affects this survival test.’

This small piece of metal will fill the element of ‘competition’ that has been missing from the test so far.

“Should we call this a competition or a contest?”

one eye said

It says everything except murder is allowed between reserve riders.

That was probably the condition with the present in mind.

‘The quick-witted guys will probably move right away! To rob other guys’ pockets!’

So, I couldn’t be left behind in this competition.

Yuri jumped up from her seat.

Then, just as I was about to run away.

“what… wait?”

Yuri’s head, which stood tall, was confused with complicated thoughts.

A look that seems to be offended by something.

‘Is this right?’

Yuri crossed his arms and turned around the seat.

“hmm… … .”

Yuri closed his eyes and stroked his chin.

“Hmm… … .”

His eyes, which had been lost in thought for a long time, widened.

“ah!”

Yuri’s eyes, which let out a brief exclamation, shone so clearly that even in the dark, it was clear.

“That’s it!”

Yuri hit the left palm with her right fist and smiled broadly.