Chapter 10
"You're saying absolutely nothing happened?"
Berton looked at Palcoat and the trainees standing before him.
Palcoat nodded.
"I'm telling you the truth. I admit we went too far. But we only wanted Theron to help us collect Moltir Flowers. We didn't have any other intentions."
"That's right. If he hadn't provoked us, we wouldn't have attacked him like that."
Another large trainee beside Palcoat spoke.
Then...
"That's bullshit! If you weren't planning to attack, why did you draw your knives, you bastard?!"
Perka shouted from the side.
Tioren immediately added,
"Head Instructor. They tried to steal the flowers we collected, and they threatened us with knives."
"That's right. They also threatened Theron and told him to collect more flowers for them."
At their words, Palcoat and his group glared murderously.
Just looking at their faces made the truth rather obvious.
Still...
Conflict between trainees inside the forest was common.
However...
"You were Palcoat, correct?"
"Yes? Y-Yes, sir!"
When Berton directly called his name, Palcoat answered loudly.
He looked both nervous and excited.
Inside the training facility, Berton possessed absolute authority.
Being noticed by him could sometimes be a very good thing.
Berton looked at Palcoat.
"So after chasing Theron, nothing happened... and you simply lost him?"
"Yes, that's right. If anything, we're the ones who were tricked. He acted like he was trying to run away with the flowers..."
"Then did the three of you return empty-handed?"
Berton looked toward Perka.
Palcoat smirked.
They had collected three Moltir Flowers.
But Theron had taken them when he ran away.
And now Theron was dead.
That meant Perka and the others should also fail the first test.
Then...
"No. These three were the first trainees to pass the test."
"...!?"
"What?!"
Palcoat and his companions stared in shock.
Bengle looked toward Berton.
"All three submitted Moltir Flowers. The flowers were also in excellent condition."
"I see."
Berton nodded.
Palcoat immediately shouted,
"Th-That's impossible! Theron definitely took the Moltir Flowers they collected!"
Renil sneered.
"You idiot. Didn't you see Theron hide the pouch behind his back before running away?"
"So what?"
"He switched it with mine."
Palcoat froze.
"Theron already knew you bastards were following us."
Renil clearly remembered what Theron had whispered into his ear.
There are people following us. When I give the signal, switch your pouch with mine. After that, I'll draw their attention...
Theron had spoken so quickly that Renil had not even had time to answer or prepare.
Everything had already been planned inside Theron's head.
"...We passed the test because of Theron. But one thing is certain."
Renil glared at Palcoat.
"Something happened to Theron because of those bastards."
Perka nodded.
"They may be lying about losing him."
Palcoat shouted,
"What kind of ridiculous..."
"Enough."
Berton cut him off.
The entire room instantly became silent.
Berton looked at Palcoat.
"Palcoat."
"Yes, Head Instructor."
"You clearly said you lost Theron while chasing him."
Step.
Berton moved closer.
Then...
Grab.
"Urgh!"
Berton tightly seized Palcoat's left arm.
Blood began running down from it.
Rip!
Berton grabbed the sleeve and tore it away.
A clear cut wound was revealed underneath.
Berton's eyes became cold.
"Then why is there a sword wound on your arm?"
"Th-This is...!"
Palcoat knew better than to claim a tree branch had caused it.
That kind of excuse would never work.
He panicked and tried to speak.
But Berton had already lost interest.
"Take him away and punish him. Naturally, he has failed the first test."
There was a price for lying to Berton.
"I-Instructor! Instructor!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
"Please! Give us one more chance!"
Palcoat and the other trainees shouted desperately while being dragged away.
Berton did not even glance at them.
He looked at Bengle.
Bengle asked,
"Then... should we send a search group for Theron?"
"Why waste effort on something so troublesome?"
Berton's voice was freezing cold.
"If he's alive, he'll return. If he's dead... then that was simply as far as his life was meant to go."
Perka, Tioren, and Renil unconsciously clenched their fists.
Berton did not care.
He looked at them.
"Congratulations on passing."
Then his gaze became colder.
"But if that result wasn't achieved through your own ability... I wonder how far you'll really be able to go."
Berton turned and walked away.
The three boys bit their lips.
If that result wasn't achieved through your own ability... I wonder how far you'll really be able to go.
The words cut deeply into them.
But right now...
Theron.
Where are you, Theron?
Please come back soon... Theron.
All they could do was desperately hope he returned.
Deep inside the cave...
Red energy moved strangely, almost like something alive.
The shimmering energy flowed toward the boy sitting in the center.
It wrapped around Theron's body.
The entire cave heated up as though a hidden furnace had been ignited.
Drip... drip...
Something inside his body felt ready to explode.
A terrible heat surged through Theron, like he had swallowed red-hot metal.
So this is... the Blood Jade Fruit's true power.
In his previous life...
His memories of eating the Blood Jade Fruit were unclear.
He had been terribly injured and close to death.
He had swallowed it, then immediately lost consciousness.
Because of that, he had never realized just how much power it truly contained.
Only now did he understand.
Focus.
Sweat poured down his body and gathered on the ground.
The enormous power was almost impossible to endure.
It violently swirled inside him, threatening to tear his body apart.
If he lost control...
Or tried to directly fight against that power...
I could die right here.
Forget revenge.
He could simply die a meaningless death inside this cave.
Theron gathered every bit of concentration he possessed and began controlling the Blood Jade Fruit's power.
Blood vessels burst beneath his skin.
His flesh turned red.
His muscles felt as though they were being torn apart.
Even his bones seemed to twist.
It was like being tortured while fully conscious.
