The Villain is Too Good at Sniping - Chapter 117
Only Noblemtl
Episode 117. Puppet (5)
A week has passed since the raid on the expo hall.
I thought that, like in the original, the ivory tower would desperately suppress the media and a large-scale restructuring would occur.
To conclude, no.
“… For the reasons stated above, all scheduled events at Elysium have been canceled. We ask for your generous understanding.”
We were virtually confined to our quarters by Professor Reina’s orders when we encountered an unexpected guest.
None other than the ivory tower official. While Kyle and the other cadets were just blinking like goldfish, she nodded her head.
Considering the scale of the commotion that occurred at the exhibition hall this time and the merit of subduing the mines, this is not a very good treatment. It would not be enough even if the Matapju himself came out and bowed his head.
… That was the moment when such a thought crossed my mind.
“The Ivory Tower has decided that it will spare no effort in supporting the cadets who have been affected this time. If there are any cadets who need the Ivory Tower’s help, it has also been said that it will provide assistance within its reach.”
We were given a badge engraved with the seal symbolizing the ivory tower.
“The badge is a one-time magical tool that allows you to contact the Ivory Tower. If you contact the Ivory Tower through the badge, you can receive help from the Ivory Tower once only.”
At that moment, Lara Steelheiden’s eyes lit up. Several cadets raised their hands.
“Hey, if I could get some help from the ivory tower… maybe?”
“It means that you can literally get help from the ivory tower. The ivory tower will act immediately upon receiving your contact, without any conditions or terms. Of course, this is allowed as long as it does not harm the name of the ivory tower.”
“Then, would you please help me with homework or something?”
It was a difficult question.
The Ivory Tower official exchanged glances with Professor Reina before answering. As soon as Professor Reina gave her approval, she nodded. It seemed like they had discussed it beforehand.
“Of course. But you have to think carefully. If I were a cadet, I wouldn’t use this for just an assignment.”
The official turned around, adding a note to use it carefully.
“… The message from the Lord of the Tower is strange.”
With those words, the official bowed his head once more and left the hotel lobby.
The cadets, including Kyle, began to gossip.
“… So, is this good?”
“You’ve probably heard of the Ivory Tower. If the Ivory Tower offered to help with anything, it would be excessive compensation.”
“That’s right. Even Professor Björn can’t move the ivory tower, right? If you think about it that way, it doesn’t seem so bad.”
Even those who are ignorant of magic know that the Ivory Tower is the best magic tower on this continent. The Ivory Tower has handed over a blank check promising unconditional help without any conditions.
Even the sincerity to the point of making personal magic tools.
You can hold the ivory tower morally responsible, but most people will turn away satisfied with this level of compensation. In fact, there is a precedent in the original work where they gave the ivory tower a chance to help, but then passed it over.
I looked at the ivory tower badge in my hand. The leaf-shaped metal badge was a real item that also existed in the original work.
‘He’s giving me this.’
An item that you can only own two of per turn.
System-wise, you would get one as you progress through the story, and the remaining one could be purchased separately.
It is an item that can be used in various ways, but since it provides direct help from the ivory tower, even difficult situations can be easily overcome with just this one item. In the end, due to balance issues, it is an item that has a limit on the number of times it can be purchased.
I felt a presence next to me. I looked to see who it was, and it was Iri.
“Well, then would you mind paying for it for me…?”
“I would probably do it, but I would rather not.”
Even if it is an expenditure at the cadet level, it is difficult to exceed hundreds of millions. Even if it exceeds this amount, it is nothing more than a drop in the bucket for the ivory tower. The ivory tower pours astronomical amounts of money into research every time.
“It’s not something that can be converted into money, so just put it away for now. You can use it later after you graduate.”
As I was comforting Iri like that, I saw Lara Stillheiden standing alone in the distance.
Lara looks at the badge and is lost in thought. She will probably use it to find Aidan Stillheiden, just like in the original.
Unfortunately, Lara’s efforts are in vain. Aidan’s records have long since been erased by Professor Björn, and the Ivory Tower is also unable to find Aidan, as he was devoured by his doppelganger.
Lara Steelheiden probably doesn’t know that Aidan is still alive. If left alone, she’ll probably use the badge to find Aidan.
It has not been decided yet whether to let it flow like the original or to intervene. However, as the person in charge said himself, it is a waste to waste it.
That’s why I have to tell Lara that Aidan Stillheiden is alive someday. Lara will probably save the badge as a last resort, but I don’t think there’s much time.
“Anyway, that’s the position of the Ivory Tower. If you want, you can use it for your assignments, but… My personal wish is that you don’t borrow the name of the Ivory Tower just for the sake of your assignments.”
Professor Reina let the students chatter away for a bit, then interrupted the chatter at the appropriate time.
“And for the five people who contributed to the subjugation of Mines, including Kyle Ivanstairs, a ceremony to award medals will be held by the Hunter Association.”
Professor Reina, who was talking like that, suddenly looked at me. It seemed like she was asking for final confirmation if it was really okay to continue like this.
To be honest, I’m greedy. If I attend the award ceremony and receive the medal, my future path after graduation will become clearer. If I were to join the Hunter Association, I might even get extra points.
“… … .”
“ah…….”
But I nodded. Now was not a good time.
As the old saying goes, if you covet small things, you may lose big things.
If I had been an ordinary cadet, I would have been more active. If there was a way to raise my honor or value, I would have participated without thinking twice.
However, I have already seen what butterfly effects my small choices can lead to.
When I objected to the plan to assassinate Lilia de Sugarmond, the Duke of Esperland came to see me in person. It was probably due to the debuff ‘Villain’s Dilemma’ that was placed on me.
It was fortunate that things went well at the time, but if things had gone wrong even a little, I would have died and Kyle would have died on the spot. The same would have happened to Rebecca.
So, I decided to give all the credit to Kyle and his crew.
If I stood proudly next to Kyle here right now, I might enjoy the ripple effect.
“… Yes. That’s right. We plan to create a separate space for the students who have made contributions at this exhibition and guide them there.”
For me, it’s more likely to escalate into something that will eat away at my lifeline.
I just happened to be passing by and providing support, and I thought the situation was serious so I called Professor Reina. That’s how I’ve already arranged a conversation with Professor Reina and Airi.
Kyle must be interpreting this as me volunteering to leave.
“Then, get some rest today. You’ll be busy again starting tomorrow.”
Professor Reina ended the story bitterly.
***
Two days later, all the cadets who had left for Elysium returned to Arsene.
“Them? Those guys who caught mine… … .”
“You’re all first-year students. The first-year students caught Mine?”
Arsene was in an uproar. It was a big commotion, and several articles were published, so it seemed that the rumor had spread like wildfire.
However, Kyle did not hide his discomfort, far from being proud. Even though Serene Annette greeted him first, Kyle did not respond properly. He just kept glancing at me the whole time we were walking to the restaurant.
“… Are you sure it’s okay if I don’t go? I heard the hunters are coming in person.”
“I told you. I’m not going.”
Maybe Kyle doesn’t know, but for me, this is the best option.
To be honored with a medal from the Hunter Association is certainly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and a romantic dream that any cadet dreams of. Of course, this is when you are an ordinary cadet.
“I was just passing by and happened to see the situation, and I helped because it seemed dangerous. The important thing is that you and Professor Reina did everything. I didn’t do anything.”
I thought you would have understood it, since it was half true.
“Zion, don’t you have any desires in that regard? Things like fame, a career path after graduation, or success.”
“Well, it’s not like there aren’t any.”
Ttukbuk-
I stopped walking for a moment because I thought she would follow me to the guest house if I left her alone any longer. I can’t tell her everything, but I think I need to briefly explain my situation.
“It would be an honor to meet the hunters working for the association in person, and it would be an even greater honor to be awarded a medal by them. Other cadets would attend even if their schedules were disrupted.”
Up to this point, it’s a very common-sense story.
“But I’m not sure. It doesn’t make sense to be invited to such a place just because I shot you a few times. I don’t know if I would have continued to support you after that, but when things were really dangerous, it wasn’t me who helped you, it was Professor Reina, right? Even though I called you.”
“Isn’t that putting yourself down too much?”
“You said the monster on display at the exhibition moved, but I didn’t even see its face.”
Adam, who would not have woken up originally, opened his eyes due to an unexpected event.
But I didn’t see Adam. The buff came to me, but it was Kyle, not me, who actually fought against Adam. If you match the story like this, it makes sense.
Even though I have the merit of striking the main body of Eltus, this is not a fact that has been made public. The world only knows that an unidentified assailant happened to attack the Ivory Tower.
All evidence was destroyed in the fire, and the only eyewitness account was of a ‘masked attacker’ who burst in, but even that was covered up as the Ivory Tower attempted to destroy the evidence.
All the circumstances are as opaque as if shrouded in fog, and the little evidence that exists is directly controlled by the ivory tower. So even if the tail is caught, it will be Esperland’s tail, not mine.
“Well, I just thought it was too much for me. So you don’t have to worry about it. Just have fun. And take care of the kids like Lala and Esili instead of me.”
“… … .”
“Then I’ll go and see for now.”
After saying this, Kyle didn’t ask any more questions. He seemed to be displeased, but he knew he would take care of the rest.
In fact, aside from the circumstances mentioned above, there is another reason why I am reluctant to meet directly with the Hunter Association. It is because I am Sion Esperland.
Esperland would later come into conflict with the Hunter Association, and I was worried that my connection to the Hunter Association might cause problems along the way.
I parted ways with Kyle. We went to the guest house instead of the dorm.
The main characters have their own paths to take. I can watch over them and help them along the way, but I cannot walk alongside them.
With that in mind, I boldly opened the front door of the guest house. Rebecca, who had been waiting for me, turned to look at me.
.
.
.
[Complete Main Quest: Magic Expo]
?Revealing Melverton’s Identity: Magician Eltus (Complete)]
?Gather four or more companions: Four or more people participating in the expedition (Complete)]
?Infiltrate the exhibition hall without being detected: Undetected (Complete)]
?Basic Reward: All Stat Points +0.77]
?Additional Reward: Magic Power +250]
?Additional Goal Achievement Reward: Talent Experience +330]
*Overall Evaluation: A
I wish you good luck.