Episode 60. One Hundred Foot Ritual (2)
Jeopah jebuk jebuk-.
Hundreds of footsteps combined to create a strange atmosphere.
gulp-.
As we moved forward, some of them swallowed dry saliva, while others broke out in a cold sweat.
The moment the 50 riders completely exited the aisle and entered the light.
“… Huh?!”
The one at the forefront gasped and paused.
“What, what?”
The person following bumped into his back and frowned in surprise, but soon he too had to gasp like the person in front of him.
But I couldn’t help but be surprised.
Because there were hundreds of people following.
The leader was pushed back and went inside.
Others who entered the amphitheater from behind were not much different from those in the lead.
“omg?!”
No, I was just happy to be surprised.
Some were so startled that they even hiccupped.
And finally, Yuri stepped into the amphitheater, and he laughed at the sight unfolding before him.
“under? You say you’re so welcoming?”
The amphitheater was great even when viewed from the outside, but once inside, its majesty was extraordinary.
A huge stadium in the center and tiered seats that can accommodate tens of thousands of people.
And the audience seats were full of people dressed in black.
‘… Are those black swordsmen?’
Only then did Yuri know what this heavy, dense air was.
‘blood… And the incense of death.’
The murder weapons that were said to be the best in the world were the Black Swordsmen.
the blood they shed.
the blood they bury.
Also the death of someone who clings to them.
With tens of thousands of them clustered together, it was only natural that such terrible air was created.
If the person in this arena was a weak general, he would have fainted at the scent of death that came from all directions.
Also, even if he had mana, he would not be able to come to his senses if his skills were mediocre.
In fact, some of the 50 planes that entered the arena were so shrunken that their movements became sluggish.
In the meantime, Yuri quickly glanced around.
‘huh?’
The place that stole Yuri’s gaze.
There was an audience seat that was a little different from the other audience seats.
Seats for the spectators deep into the arena.
It was a special place made for people of high rank.
There was a fancy chair in that special audience seat.
The next thing that caught Yuri’s attention was a line drawn on the arena floor, starting from under the special audience seats.
‘What is that?’
White lines are drawn at regular intervals, as if drawing concentric circles around the special seats.
‘one two three four… … .’
Roughly counting, there seemed to be about 100 white lines in total.
While Yuri was distracted, the procession of 50 planes stopped at the very end of the white line.
and a voice heard.
“Sort it out!”
At the loud cry, the 50th moved faster than ever.
Tens of thousands of pairs of eyes were watching, so I naturally became nervous.
However, since they were not formally trained, their uncoordinated movements were awkward.
Still, somehow, they lined up roughly and in line with each other.
Jerk-.
The one-eyed vice-captain, Duran Bikovic, stood in front of the 50th.
“From now on, the 50th Cradle of the Dragon Entrance Ceremony begins.”
Even though it was an important moment to announce the opening of the ceremony, his voice contained a hint of laughter.
Duran lightly gestured toward the subordinates behind him.
Kkadak-.
Then, dozens of Black Swordsmen moved quickly and began distributing something to the 50th riders.
All they handed out was a piece of paper and a quill pen stuck in a thin wooden board.
Unexpectedly, those who received the wooden board blinked their eyes at the letters written on the top of the document.
＜will＞
It was two letters with my daughter.
There was a huge gap underneath it.
Anyone could see that it meant writing a will right here and now.
Since it was an entrance ceremony, the jockeys, who were expecting something like an event of their own, widened their eyes in surprise at the sudden writing of a suicide note.
Duran replied to their eyes as if they were looking for an explanation.
“You can do anything in this cradle land. Of course, there are some rules to follow in order to enjoy that freedom… Well, that’s something you’ll have to figure out later. There are only two things for you to engrave in your head right now.”
One eye of Duran, who raised his index finger, shone.
“First, the strong take it all! The strongest guy takes everything. Shut up and kneel down!”
Then the stop went up.
“Second, if you want to become stronger, win at any cost. In order to win, even killing for a legitimate reason is permitted.”
“… … ?!”
At his story, the 50th jockey’s heart sank.
In the Forest of Beginnings, everything was allowed, but murder was forbidden.
But now it’s different.
It was officially announced that even murder with a reason, not senseless murder, would be allowed.
Even though they are children living in an era of competition, murder was still an unfamiliar word even to them.
Also, allowing murder meant someone could die.
It could be the people around you, or… what you could be.
Those who realized it finally realized it properly.
They knew that this land they were stepping on was not a decent academy where they polished their learning and knowledge.
That this place is like a battlefield.
And Duran, who read their expressions.
“Why, do you feel a little bit now? What situation are you in?”
Filled with joy in his only eye, he raised his middle finger toward the 50th.
“You guys are screwed now. cluck cluck.”
cluck cluck-.
Duran’s laugh sounded like boiling phlegm, and the riders of the 50th aircraft felt the suicide note in their hands unusually heavy.
Seeing this, Duran sighed.
“What are you doing, don’t use it right away.”
“… … .”
“why? can’t you use it? It’s not too late even now. just talk I will send you home.”
His sarcasm made the atmosphere even heavier.
But when everyone is serious.
Because there was someone who picked up his ears with dumb eyes.
After-.
No matter what the surrounding atmosphere was, Yuri just found this time boring.
‘What did you say, then you must have entered the cradle without that much determination?’
Rather, it was just more absurd to him that he could become so serious just by writing a suicide note.
hook-.
Yuri blows the earwax off her little finger with her mouth.
As he was about to write a will with a quill pen, he blinked at the words written at the bottom of the document.
[I swear that if I reveal the contents of the dragon’s cradle, I will pay for my sins with death, and I will not reveal the secret of the cradle even when I become a soul.]
Yuri, who saw that, laughed.
‘Is this a will or a confidentiality agreement?’
It seems that these cradle guys have developed an annoyance.
I see you’re trying to do two things at once.
‘Isn’t this enough to actually sell a will with a confidentiality agreement?’
Well, it was good.
Whether it’s a will or a confidentiality treaty.
Whatever it was, it didn’t matter.
Yuri picked up a quill and wrote the papers nicely.
Square- Square-.
It took him less than 30 seconds to write the will.
Then he handed over his will to the Black Swordsman who was waiting next to him.
That was the first will submitted out of 50 of 300 people.
The first will, submitted in a serious atmosphere, played a role in opening the way to the stagnant flow.
When Yuri cut off the first start, the others suddenly came to their senses.
‘Yeah, how did I get here!’
‘The cradle life begins now! I can’t just give up and go with this!’
They gritted their teeth and wrote a will.
Of course, not all were so serious.
There were many people who wrote wills more calmly than expected.
They already guessed that the cradle was like this from the beginning.
While tens of thousands of people watched like that, when the 50th riders wrote their wills.
The Black Swordsman, who received the first written will, looked at the will and glass alternately with a trembling face.
A look as if this is really true.
Despite the stinging glances flying at him, Yuri did not change his expression and just shrugged.
“why?”
“… … .”
“What?”
“… … .”
With that shamelessness, the Black Swordsman had no choice but to deliver the will he had received to Duran.
Upon receiving it, Duran sighed.
＜will＞
I am immortal.
It was a suicide note that was truly glass-like, without the slightest sense of tension.
A messy will with only one line was laid at the very bottom.
Next, the will submitted without much time difference between Yuri and Poppy belonged to none other than Poppy.
Shuk-.
Yuri had Poppy on the left and Arin on the right.
He passed in front of me and peeked at Poppy’s will being handed over to the Black Swordsman.
At the same time, a thought popped out of my mouth without passing through my brain.
“… This b*tch is real.”
The reason Yuri had no choice but to say that.
There was only one word written in Poppy’s will.
＜will＞
hungry.
… Apparently, this bastard wasn’t acting on purpose.
Following Yuri and Poppy, many people wrote and submitted wills.
Those who wrote short and concise wills like Yuri and Poppy.
Or those who carefully decide what to leave, and so on.
A variety of wills poured in.
Of course, there were still people who wrote wills despite the passage of time.
Among them was Arin.
Arin Helga is diligently writing a will with a more prudent face than anyone else.
Curious about what she was so eager to write, Yuri sneaked a peek at her suicide note.
And he said the same thing again.
“… This one is real too.”
＜will＞
Cakes, butter cookies, grilled chicken dishes, boiled chicken dishes, steamed fish with black sauce. Bread with apple jam, bread with egg wash, Southern-style noodles… … .
… Let’s stop finding out.
‘Certainly he’s not insane either.’
The names of various foods filled in in small letters.
It wasn’t until there was no room left for enemies to stop.
That was the last will written.
Arin’s will that went up to the top.
Duran, who saw the suicide note with the name of the food written in it, was dumbfounded.
Arin Helga, Yuri Holland, and even a guy called Bobbie.
Three standing side by side.
‘It’s like they’re gathered together.’
Even if they do come together, how did they get together?
It was just amazing.
“Tsk!”
Duran clicked his tongue briefly and waved his hands.
Then, with the will his subordinates had collected, he disappeared.
After the event, whether it was a ceremony or a suicide note, was over.
“Congratulations, moths who threw themselves into the pit of hell! By this you have become the 50th Horseman of the Cradle.”
As soon as the words were finished, Duran stamped his feet.
Whoops-!
From nob le mt l dot com
Mere human footsteps.
But it made a louder impact than dozens of cannons exploding at once.
It was so loud that some riders plugged their ears.
And that was the signal.
Chuck- Chuck- Chuck-.
tens of thousands of spectators.
The spectators in black, who were looking down at the stadium, rose from their seats at once.
At the same time, the one-eyed man drew a short ceremonial sword and turned around.
In the direction of the special seat that Yuri first saw.
Sreureung-.
Starting from him, all the Black Swordsmen in the audience drew out the same ceremonial swords.
It was a perfect movement with no errors.
“What, what?!”
“… … ?”
Someone muttered when the riders who saw the scene were confused and confused.
“… I’ve heard of this. Swordsman!”
Black swordsmen, each from a different origin, had to use different weapons.
However, it is said that they all have the same style of sword in common.
A single ceremonial dagger that is given to black swordsmen.
The dagger, simply called the Ebony Sword, was said to be used only for one ceremony.
chuck-.
Duran Bykovic raised the ebony sword in front of his chest.
In response, tens of thousands of people took the same posture as Duran toward the special seats.
chuck-.
Standing in front of the heart, the tip of the sword pointing towards the sky.
It meant that I would dedicate my awe to the great master.
Seruk-.
The upright dagger fell obliquely and slashed the front.
This was the pledge of the servants to cut down their enemies for their great master.
The place where this unique and serious ceremony called Geomrye is headed.
To the special audience seats where all the Black Swordsmen paid awe… … .
A person entered.