I’m Here to End This Fight

Chapter 242: Inscription (2)

Yuri returned to his true role as a tiger after a long time.

With his hands shoved into the pockets of his vest, he yelled at Koban, who had burst out of the forest.

“Hurry up, will you! Don’t you think about the people waiting for you?”

His tone sounded like he was scolding a friend who was late.

Yuri’s reaction, as if he had known they would come here, startled Koban.

However, when he checked his comrades arriving behind him, he calmed his shaken mind.

‘Even if they knew we were coming, it doesn’t matter!’

Unless they blocked their way or picked them off one by one.

They had all arrived safely at their destination without losing a single member.

In other words, they were in the optimal state to catch the tiger.

Koban gave a small signal with his eyes to the followers.

Nod.

The other comrades who made eye contact with him nodded in agreement.

‘Surround him without delay!’

‘Move without letting your guard down!’

The arduous training they had endured hadn’t been in vain, as they swiftly moved towards the clearing with just a brief exchange of glances.

Rustle.

The tiger’s domain was wide enough to accommodate hundreds of people.

There were no obstacles, like trees, so even as 81 people spread out, it posed no significant issue.

Until then, Yuri hadn’t shown much reaction, which Koban found somewhat strange.

‘I don’t know what kind of confidence you have, but if you just stand by like that, we’ll be grateful!’

Whatever he was relying on, that confidence would soon turn into regret.

While Koban was so sure of this, the 51st batch finally succeeded in surrounding Yuri.

With everything proceeding smoothly according to plan, their confidence soared.

‘It’s done!’

‘With this, half… no, 70% of the plan is a success!’

The way the 51st batch surrounded Yuri was a basic formation used when many face a few.

Although they hadn’t trained together properly, with 81 people forming a formation against just one, even having a rough shape would be quite effective.

Yuri’s eyes sparkled as he observed the rectangular formation that surrounded him.

“Oh?”

A small exclamation escaped his lips.

Recognizing the formation, Yuri chuckled.

“You’re using what I taught you well.”

The rectangular formation around him was composed of eight groups.

Each group was the one Yuri had paired them up with during their training.

‘Even if it’s an impromptu formation, putting together those who have spent a few days rolling around and bonding… they’d coordinate somewhat.’

They likely had no time to practice the formation separately, so they opted for this approach to match their movements.

Whose head had come up with this? It was quite clever.

The one who had probably thought of it was now grinning at him.

Yuri returned the smile to the boy.

“Did you come up with this formation?”

“Well, it’s fair to say that I made it with the help of our instructor… no, senior. Thanks to you, we didn’t need any practice to trust each other this much.”

Though there was a hidden edge to his words, Yuri only grinned with satisfaction.

“Of course! Who taught you, after all?”

“…….”

“Hey, why are you complimenting something so obvious? It’s embarrassing.”

Yuri lightly waved his hand, as if rejecting the praise, making the 51st batch bristle internally.

Koban, sensing their fiery resolve as if they might pounce on Yuri any moment, issued a warning.

“…Let’s see how long you can stay so relaxed.”

At his cue, Koban gave a signal to his comrades with his eyes.

‘As planned!’

Seeing this, they responded with their own gaze.

‘Wait until the tiger has used all ten of its attack opportunities!’

‘Hold back and bide our time!’

They believed the moment to hunt the tiger would come right after those ten attacks were spent.

As they silently reaffirmed their plan with glances, Yuri smirked.

“Why don’t you fall in love already? What’s with all the eye contact?”

“…….”

“And how long are you going to keep watching? If you came to fight, come at me already.”

“…….”

“What’s the matter? Did your mouths get glued shut? Who am I even talking to right now?”

Yuri grumbled, his lips puckered.

Soon, his lips twisted into a crooked smirk.

“Well, whatever. If you won’t come to me… I’ll just have to go to you.”

With those words, Yuri, who had been at the center of the formation, vanished.

“……?!”

“Ugh!”

When the 51st batch, who had lost sight of his movement, looked for Yuri, he had already appeared at one side of the formation.

It was the group centered around Mucci.

And then—

“You were here too?”

Yuri, who had swiftly pierced through the group of ten to reach Mucci, smiled broadly and lightly swung his sword.

Swoosh!

Yuri’s sword flew like an extended hand reaching out in greeting.

Mucci swung his axe spear in response.

Clang!

Like swatting away a proffered hand, Mucci’s spear deflected Yuri’s sword, and Yuri chuckled at the defiance he felt from the spear.

“Wow, our youngest actually thinks he can stand up to me… Seems all that harsh training paid off.”

Mucci, glaring as if to assert he had some bite too, only looked to Yuri like a frightened cub trying desperately to puff itself up.

‘That old bear might be intimidating, but…’

Mucci, you’ve got a long way to go if you want to catch up to your grandfather.

Yuri snickered, lightly twisting his wrist to redirect his sword towards Mucci.

Mucci watched the sword coming at him again, spinning his spear to block it.

Whoosh!

A white flash clashed with the spinning spear, leaving a circular afterimage in front of him.

Clang— Clang, clang!

Sparks flew as sharp clanging sounds echoed rapidly.

Koban, counting the strikes, smiled faintly.

‘Seven!’

Including the initial attack, the six metallic sounds just now meant Yuri had attacked seven times in total.

‘Only three more to go!’

While Koban watched Mucci and Yuri’s fight with tense eyes, Yuri suddenly stepped back and casually rotated his wrist.

This time, his sword aimed at another boy who was tense on his left side.

As if abandoning the unbreakable Mucci, Yuri seemed to be seeking a new target.

Swish.

The speed was considerable.

But the highly alert boy dodged swiftly and deflected Yuri’s sword.

Skrang!

Hearing the sound of the blades clashing, Koban’s shoulders twitched.

‘Eight!’

As Koban counted the exchange, Yuri gave up on the evading target and charged Mucci again.

And—

Clang!

Once more, Yuri’s sword failed to penetrate Mucci’s defense and bounced off.

‘Nine!’

Almost there.

Koban and the 51st batch, tightly gripping their swords as if ready to charge at any moment.

At that moment, Mucci, who had just blocked Yuri’s attack, frowned.

‘Something’s off…’

Since the first time he blocked Yuri’s strike, Mucci had felt something was wrong.

‘Why… isn’t he attacking seriously?’

On the first day of the Leather Gathering Quest.

Yuri had easily broken through Mucci’s defense.

Because of that memory, Mucci had been extremely tense, doing his utmost every time the sword came at him.

‘But now, why is he wasting his attacks like this?’

To others, Yuri’s sword strikes might seem sharp and fast.

But among the 51st batch, if no one else, Mucci knew.

Yuri Holland’s sword strikes were incomparably sharper and overwhelmingly faster than this.

Yet, for some reason, Yuri had not shown his full strength even once.

As if he were deliberately wasting his attacks.

‘…Deliberately?’

Mucci’s suspicion flashed briefly across his mind.

Clang!

Another clash of swords sent sparks flying.

Koban, now grinning confidently, shouted with conviction.

“Ten!”

With this, the tiger had exhausted all its permitted attacks.

Now it was their turn to become the hunters.

“Everyone, attack!”

As Koban gave the order with a triumphant smile—

‘Huh…?’

Mucci saw it.

Yuri, standing in front of him.

“Heh… hehehe.”

Wearing an almost delighted smile.

Seeing this, Mucci felt a chill run down his back.

It was a warning from his instincts.

‘R-Run away…’

That the ‘thing’ smiling at him now was dangerous.

That he could never contend with it.

But Yuri moved faster than Mucci’s instincts.

Swish!

Leaving not even a trace, Yuri was already at Mucci’s waist.

‘It’s too late!’

Realizing it was too late to escape, Mucci poured all his mana into striking Yuri with his spear.

Schnell Axe Spear Technique – Ice Wall Splitting.

The spear descended on Yuri with a crimson arc, like a falling comet.

It was the finishing move Mucci had used in the 2 out of 3 duel against Yuri.

Though the move took a long time to prepare then, Mucci could now use it instantly in this crisis.

Showing just how much effort and growth he had achieved over the past year.

But unfortunately, in terms of effort and growth, Mucci could never catch up to Yuri.

“Warm-up’s over.”

After the playful warning, a golden light burst from the tip of Yuri’s sword.

The explosive light collided directly with Mucci’s crimson trajectory.

Boom!

A massive blast resounded, and a gro

an escaped Mucci’s lips.

“Gah?!”

The pain from his arm and grip, which felt like they would break, made Mucci gape.

‘W-What is this?!’

Comparing a descending strike to an upward thrust, naturally, the downward strike held more force.

But—

‘Unbelievable!’

That logic was shattered.

Yuri’s upward sword strike had perfectly countered Mucci’s spear.

The impact sent his spear flying in the opposite direction, and even Mucci’s upper body tilted backward, lifting him off the ground.

Having never imagined being overpowered by someone in strength, Mucci was in shock.

At last, his gaze landed on Yuri’s sword, now glowing with a golden light.

‘That’s…?!’

Realizing what it was, Mucci was again horrified.

‘A Magic Sword!’

The golden light Yuri produced was a technique symbolic of a recognized fourth stage.

However, by the time Mucci realized this, his body was already flying backward.

And—

Crash!

He collided with a tree trunk, creating a loud noise as he sprawled on the ground.

All of this happened in an instant.

The sight of Mucci being thrown by a flash of golden light stunned the 51st batch into a standstill, momentarily forgetting they were supposed to attack Yuri.

The unexpected turn of events froze their thoughts.

“Eleven? He made more than ten attacks…?”

Someone mumbled dazedly.

Swish!

Yuri vanished again, appearing right in front of Koban.

He kicked Koban’s leg, making him kneel, and rested his sword on Koban’s shoulder.

“……?!”

Koban’s eyes trembled.

His inability to move wasn’t just because of the cold blade resting on his neck.

It was also due to the realization that the tiger, known to have only ten attacks, had struck eleven times… no, including him, a total of twelve times.

“H-How?”

“Why? Is something different from what you know?”

Yuri smiled as if he knew exactly what Koban was thinking.

“Geez, are you guys just naive, or plain dumb?”

At Koban’s trembling voice, Yuri looked at him with disdain.

“Seriously, when things go too smoothly, don’t you feel uneasy?”

“What are you…?”

“Still can’t figure it out? That’s disappointing. I thought you were smarter than this.”

“What the hell… what are you trying to say?!”

“What else? You guys got played.”

Koban met Yuri’s gaze, full of mockery.

In Yuri’s golden eyes, Koban could glimpse Yuri’s memories.

“Do you think Arin talked about last year’s quests in front of you just for your amusement?”

Arin naturally mingling with the 51st batch, chatting cheerfully.

Yuri watching her with a meaningful expression.

“Even after a day of hellish training, you still had energy… Was it really because your bodies adapted?”

Yuri subtly adjusting the intensity of the training without the 51st batch realizing.

“The whole way here, there was no disturbance. Was it really because a mere 80 people scared others off?”

Yuri, having consulted with the quest supervisor, telling the animals in the forest not to touch the 51st batch.

“And is it true that the tiger’s attacks are limited to ten?”

After saying that, Yuri shouted towards a part of the forest.

“Hey, Arin. Didn’t you tell them the tiger’s attack limit is ten per person?”

A response came with a rustle from the trees.

“Oh, right! I forgot! Hehe.”

The voice sounded playful, as if teasing.

Only then did the 51st batch realize everything was part of Yuri Holland’s plan.

Representing them all, Koban asked the question.

“Why… why would you do this?”

Today… no, in just a few hours, this quest would end. Why do something like this?

Why go to such lengths?

Koban couldn’t understand that.

In response to his question, Yuri answered with a serious and poignant face.

“Back in my day…”

“……?”

“We did this for ten days.”

“Huh?”

The 51st batch wondered if they had heard right.

While question marks hovered above their heads, Yuri suddenly shouted with a serious expression.

“We did this for ten days, and you guys think it’s fair to finish in just a week?!”

“…….”

“This is unjust! I had to make things even!”

…What the hell is wrong with this guy?

Why are you trying to enforce fairness?

The 51st batch all stared at Yuri, sharing the same thought.

But Yuri was unapologetically firm.

“Alright, let’s make up for the missing three days of the 51st batch’s training starting now!”

“R-Right now?”

“Exactly! Night training begins!”

As he yelled this, Yuri pulled out a red cap and put it on, and the 51st batch blinked in disbelief.

‘Oh god…’

‘What is that thing?’

The instructor in the tiger vest—was he a tiger or an instructor?

Or was he an instructor who was also a tiger?

Caught off guard by this sudden and terrifying hybrid, the 51st batch couldn’t find their bearings.

Meanwhile, the cadets from the 50th batch and above, who had heard about the amusing spectacle and were secretly watching everything unfold—

“I…”

“We…”

All of them thought the same thing when they looked at Yuri.

“…Being this guy’s juniors would’ve been the unluckiest thing of our lives!”

Every single onlooker sighed deeply in relief.