The Villain is Too Good at Sniping - Chapter 101
Only Noblemtl
Episode 101. Review and Preview (4)
The first match of interpersonal training.
The fight between Team 1, led by Kyle Ivanstairs, and Team 4, led by Elin Bernhardt, ended surprisingly blandly.
“Elin Bernhardt is out, Sinclair Robin is out, Harold is out.”
Instructor Shezad raised his left hand. It was in the direction our team was.
“Team 4 is annihilated with this, and this time Team 1 wins.”
Wow-!
There were mixed reactions among the cadets watching outside the arena.
“… It’s over in one go with a really good casting.”
“What Team 4 was trying to do was all cut off, and Team 1 wasn’t. That’s obvious.”
“But does it make sense that such a small thundercloud would produce that much power?”
But most of them reacted that Kim was upset.
First of all, their tactics were similar.
Since the wizard was the one who could produce the most firepower, the tactic was for the warriors and archers to stand in front and block attacks, buying time while the wizard prepared a large-scale attack.
In fact, it was a method mainly used by hunters working on the front lines. It was included in the basic combat manual, and it worked against multiple enemies.
However, there is bound to be a qualitative difference between hunters working in the field and cadets just learning at Arsene, even if they use the same tactics.
Even when casting breaks occur, hunters respond flexibly because they have the ability and experience to do so.
On the other hand, the 4 teams were extremely immature. Their ability to deal with unexpected situations was significantly lacking, and above all, they had bad luck with the draw.
If the tactics are similar and the team composition is similar, the difference in the cadets’ abilities determines victory or defeat.
Unlike the four teams that had only participated in training, Team 1 had two cadets who had actual combat experience.
“Congratulations, Kyle Evanstair, you may go down now.”
“Thank you, Instructor!”
“And Zion Illionheart.”
As I watched Kyle receive a seal from a distance, Instructor Shezad called my name.
“It was a great fight.”
“yes…….”
I nodded.
Isabella, sitting next to Instructor Shezad, was looking at me. She must have noticed.
I clearly told you not to put mercy in your hands, but the fact that I hesitated for a moment.
It is better not to show half-hearted mercy.
Just as I felt pride as a marksman when I faced the slinger, Sinclair Robin, he must have felt his pride being scratched when he faced me.
If the situation had been the opposite, I would have been furious too.
But there was no particular reprimand. Sinclair Robin was sitting there without saying anything, and it may have been because it was the first fight.
“Well, I did pretty well. If I review this match and improve, I’ll be even better than I am now.”
Still, I offered my deepest consolation to Sinclair Robin as he came down from the arena. At first, he looked at me as if telling me not to be so funny, but eventually he accepted my consolation.
***
After that, interpersonal combat training continued.
“Next team, please enter the arena.”
“I’m Daniel, the representative of Team 13.”
“I’m Vanessa, the representative of Team 9.”
The cadet sparring that took place today was actually just a preliminary round.
In this training, each team faces off like a tournament, and the winning team is sent up. As the match continues, the number of surviving teams decreases, and at the end, only two teams remain.
Unfortunately, since it was strictly a class, I couldn’t leave immediately after finishing the sparring session. I had to stay in my seat and watch the other teams fight, just like the other cadets.
It was an interesting spectacle. It was a good thing for me, because I had to keep an eye on who was going up.
A short break. I checked the main quest.
–[New Goal]–
?[Main] PvP Training (New!)
Objective: To participate in the PvP training hosted by Arsen
? Reward: All stat points slightly increase in proportion to performance
*Additional objectives
? Defeat three or more enemies
? Advancing from interpersonal training to the semi-finals
? Number of eliminations during the match: 2 or less
———-
‘You just have to participate… … .’
Since it was just an episode that passed through in the middle, the goal was quite simple.
There is no requirement to meet any conditions; simply participating will achieve the goal.
However, the fact that the main quest completion message has not yet appeared means that you should try to climb as high as possible according to the quest description you saw before.
‘Is that what you call a horse?’
I can’t lose.
Even if I fall down during the game, I have to send Kyle up. To do that, I have to win this one-on-one training at all costs.
Even if you tell me not to, I’m going to aim for the finals.
Considering the performance of the 7 cadets selected as representative cadets for Arsene’s side in the original, they should at least make it to the semi-finals.
However, since it is uncertain whether or not you will be selected, you must literally give it your all and show everything you can.
In the process, it will be revealed that I have mastered the [moderated trajectory], but whatever.
First of all, it was more urgent to get Kyle up there. I was willing to risk losing my magic power to set the stage normally.
Late afternoon, the sun was beginning to set.
Instructor Shezad stepped down from his seat, and Isabella Gaston took the microphone.
“We’ll stop here for today. Thank you all for your hard work. We’ll continue training for the time being, so please take the time to conserve your energy and think about your strategy.”
There was no response from the cadets. They were all exhausted and out of their minds.
Just look at Kyle Ivanstair right now and he’s dozing off right now, sitting next to me.
“How long are you going to sleep? Wake up.”
“Ugh, what time is it now?”
“What time is it now… … .”
I tried to wake Kyle, but I felt eyes on him from behind and turned around.
“hello?”
I locked eyes with Chloe Garnet. For some reason, it felt a little creepy.
***
I heard from Isabella that the interpersonal combat training between cadets will continue for the next week.
“Are you going today too?”
“uh.”
“Zion, how many hours will you be working today?”
“I don’t know when, but I’ll just do it as long as I can.”
“good.”
I went to the weight room with Kyle every day, working on my flexibility while also adding some strength training.
Compared to the stats gained through the main quest, it was only a small increase, but in the critical moments, it was the small difference of just a few decimal points that determined victory or defeat.
So, as I originally planned, I plan to focus on physical training whenever I have time. I think it would be good to make going to the gym a part of my daily routine.
Of course, the gym is a public facility.
It’s not just our team that uses it, but other teams come too. In particular, the winners who have to keep fighting in the future are practically staying in the gym.
“Hello, Serene Annette.”
“Kyle Ivanstair… … .”
“Let’s do well in this duel. I lost last time, but I will win this time. Definitely.”
“Try hard. I will do my best. At least I want to break it with my own hands.”
The two teams that won the previous match are also among them.
While Serene Annette and Kyle were exchanging greetings, I went a little further in.
“Uh, Mr. Zion… … ?”
And then I first encountered Airi, who was training. It was strange to see her coming to the gym regularly.
“Did you come to work out, too, Mr. Zion? Mr. Zion is a marksman. Wouldn’t it be more helpful to work on your agility?”
“I don’t know, but the more advanced you are, the more you should work on strength training.”
“why?”
“Want to pull this?”
I held out one of the recurve bows hanging on the wall of the gym. Airi looked at the bow here and there, then pulled the string in an awkward manner.
“Huh?! What, why is this so heavy?!”
“A shooter has to pull that dozens, hundreds of times every day.”
The bows used by hunters have stronger tension than those sold commercially or used for military purposes. If you have weak strength, you won’t be able to pull the bow in the first place. That’s why physical training is important for archers.
Of course, this doesn’t apply to me since I use firearms, but I still need to increase my stamina.
The biggest reason I come to the gym is to reduce the aftereffects of magic exhaustion, even if just a little. At the same time, I’m also increasing my stats and stamina.
As the saying goes, a healthy mind resides in a healthy body, and a healthy body accepts mana more easily than an unhealthy body.
As Rebecca said before, if you train your body, you will recover from magic drain faster.
“Ugh… How on earth do you pull something like this?”
Even while crying, Airi didn’t let go of the rope. Even though she was in a clumsy position, she was still able to pull the rope well, perhaps because she was stronger than me.
“Have you seen the new bracket that came out this time?”
“Uh… That’s, maybe… … ?”
Airi scratches her cheek with an embarrassed expression.
The preliminary rounds ended the day before yesterday. A considerable number of teams were eliminated. It seems that other classes also had similar matches.
The eliminated teams train independently and watch the upcoming matches. As a result, the atmosphere in the gym, which used to be bustling and noisy, has become quiet these days.
“This… can’t be reversed?”
“It was a result of a fair lottery, so why change anything now? We have to accept it.”
I don’t know about Iri, but actually, I’m the one who’s in the most difficult situation. I have to go up somehow.
“But if it continues like this, then probably… … .”
Airi’s expression was almost tearful. From the perspective of someone who had already passed the preliminary round, it looked like crocodile tears.
“What can I do? You’re on team 2, and I’m on team 1. That’s how the teams turned out. I guess I just had bad luck this time.”
“… … .”
“I’ll tell you in advance, I won’t give you any leniency. If you try to give it half-heartedly, you’ll get scolded by your superiors.”
“yes…….”
In the next bracket, I will be playing against three teams. The team that has Kai Alma, Gardner Meridian, and Kazuha Yuuki assigned to it.
If they win this fight, their next opponent will be Team 2, represented by Serine Annette.
Although it was early, it was practically a final match.
“Then, Mr. Zion, I wish you good luck.”
“Yeah, you too, Airi.”
As I said, there is no mercy.
This was my situation, and it was also a path for you, Airi.
***
“Team 1 representative, Kyle Ivanstair.”
“Team 3 representative, Gardner Meridian.”
The next day, we faced three teams.
The opponents were Kyle Ivanstairs, a fighter with a rival gimmick, Kai Alma, his supporter Kazuha, and Gardner Meridian, a magician and the leader of Team 3.
“As I said, this time, casting a wide-area spell like last time probably won’t work.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Focuse on small, defensive attacks to draw Gardner’s attention. That should be enough. I’ll strike the final blow.”
“The last one… Sion… Yes, fine. Let’s do that.”
Chloe Garnet’s favorability rating rises significantly.
Chloe Garnet’s current affection level towards you is ‘Very Interesting Person’.
My senses were numb for a moment, but I just let it go.
Boom-! Thuttaang-!
The arena was covered in thick dust. Every time Kai and Kyle exchanged blows, the entire arena floor shook.
Kyle’s sword drew a sharp sword stroke, but Kai Alma sometimes dodged, and sometimes boldly blocked the blade with her bare body. This was possible because her entire body was filled with magical energy.
puck-!
“Huh?!”
In the middle of the fight, Kai’s fist landed on Kyle’s stomach, but Kyle didn’t fall. He bit and hung on more fiercely, and entered close combat.
At the same time, I confronted Kazuha.
“I didn’t know I would meet Mr. Zion like this… … ?”
bang-!
“Huh?!”
Kazuha, who was holding the whip and anxiously waiting, was startled when I pulled the trigger first and started to counterattack. It seemed that she realized that I was really trying to knock her down, and there was no mercy in her hands.
He seemed a little angry. Maybe he didn’t know I could do this. But I couldn’t help it.
“… Don’t miss it!”
The moment I jumped to avoid the whip flying towards me, the trajectory of the whip changed. It became like a noose, trying to catch me.
Pot… … !
I summoned a dagger and sent it flying. The whip that would have been wrapped around my abdomen or chest instead wrapped around a single dagger.
At the same time, he looked at Kazuha with ‘weakness capture’. He aimed for Kazuha’s hand holding the whip with the bullet of belief.
There was nothing that could stand in the way, as Gardner’s attention was focused on Chloe, who would have been the biggest distraction. I pulled the trigger in midair and landed lightly.
Ting-!
“Ahhh?!”
The moment the whip fell from Kazuha’s hand, he shot Kazuha with a magic bullet again.
The wind attribute magic bullet pushed Kazuha out of the arena. Kazuha rolled on the ground several times before finally falling out of the arena.
“Team 3, Kazuha Yuuki is eliminated.”
The instructor’s dry elimination decisions continued.
“Mr. Zion, we’ve been doing this together, but isn’t this a bit too much…?”
Kazuha, who had been defeated outside the court, looked up at me in a daze.
“Well… that’s what happened.”
As for me, that was all I could say right away.