The Villain is Too Good at Sniping - Chapter 118
Only Noblemtl
Episode 118. End of semester training (1)
“… So, Arsene has a one-month summer vacation. I’m taking this time to tell you about it before the vacation starts.”
Early in the morning. During Arsene’s class. There was a bombshell announcement that no one had expected.
“I understand your excitement at the news of summer vacation, but you shouldn’t let that get you down. The vacation period is also part of Arsene’s learning process, and it’s just to provide more opportunities for experience—”
“… So, when does vacation start?”
“My senior said it will probably start next week. If it’s delayed, it could be next month.”
“But isn’t a month a bit short?”
Even as Isabella Gaston continued her calm explanation, the noisy atmosphere did not subside.
Finally, Isabella coughed and tapped the blackboard.
“That’s all for now. I hope you all will participate in this experiential learning with sincerity.”
A picturesque scene of a remote island floating on a blackboard.
The island, which is full of tropical rainforests, has no location or information displayed. Only a single picture of the entire island is hung like a painting.
While everyone was curious but couldn’t figure out when to say something, one male cadet confidently raised his hand.
“This is Kyle Evanstairs. Professor, what should we do on that island?”
“We’ll give you more details later. Just be aware that you’re going to a rainforest.”
“Is there anything else I should prepare? Can’t you even tell me how long I will be staying?”
“As I said, detailed information will be announced later. Until then, please attend class diligently.”
Despite Kyle’s barrage of questions, Isabella Gaston stubbornly ignored him. Now that she’s become more adept at dealing with Kyle, she thoroughly hides information and continues to feign ignorance.
“Then, before class, let me give you some additional precautions you should be aware of.”
Isabella dismissed the explanation. Kyle and the other cadets were left wondering. It was only natural, since the news of the summer vacation, along with the teaser about where the last training of the first semester would take place, had been dropped.
Airi winked at me. She moved her mouth without making a sound.
‘Mr. Zion, do you know where that is on the blackboard?’
‘Well, I don’t know either.’
‘Actually, there’s no such thing as a final training session, we just go on a trip together or something like that… ‘
‘Surely Arsene wouldn’t do that?’
Airi puffed out her cheeks at my indifferent answer. But it would be even stranger if I were to say here and there that I know something about that island.
Of course, I know the identity of that island.
Isabella intentionally withheld information, but I also know the true meaning of this experiential learning.
The last episode before summer vacation.
The story of the cadets’ survival on a deserted island, which was originally supposed to be the last episode that passed like the calm before the storm before facing Rebecca.
The battle to subdue Rebecca the Swordsman was unexpectedly brought forward, so Act 1 and Act 2 took place simultaneously, which disrupted the flow of the story, but somehow we made it this far. Thinking back on that fact brought new emotions.
I saw the hot sunlight shining through the window. I could feel the heat even inside the classroom.
Now that the birds are flying and weeds are starting to sprout up all over Arsen.
“Then, lastly, please be especially careful not to suffer from heatstroke during training.”
It was summer.
***
That afternoon. The cafe terrace inside Arsene.
I looked around, half-slumped in my chair.
[The Watcher’s Eye], which was upgraded by one level while catching Eltus, has its original outstanding effects strengthened even further.
+
[Watcher’s Eye] [Rare]
?You can read the flow of low to high level magic power, and can see through intermediate to high level barriers, but magic power consumption increases.
?Consume magic power to see inside objects.
?You can capture the target more accurately.
*The performance of the Watcher’s Eye is proportional to the amount of magic power consumed.
+
‘… Is this perspective the one I think it is?’
Suddenly, I became curious and tried to look at the wall on the other side. When I injected some magic power, I could see the steel structure inside the wall. When I injected a little more magic power, I could faintly see the other side of the wall.
I guess that was the limit, and it only showed the silhouette, but it was an effect similar to the perspective I know.
The problem is that the horsepower consumption is extreme.
I stopped halfway through because my eyes felt like they were burning. If I put in more magic power, I think I’ll be able to clearly see the silhouette, but if I do that, I might end up giving up my eyesight.
“Is there a problem?”
“yes?”
“You are sweating profusely.”
Suddenly, I heard voices and looked ahead, and there was Rebecca, who had come without me noticing.
I felt my hand near the nape of my neck. I was really sweating. It was partly due to the heat, but also due to the recoil from the exhaustion of my magical power. I felt a sense of exhaustion, as if all my energy was being drained from my body.
“I heard that you are already approaching the final training of the first semester.”
“Rebecca, you’re a sophomore, so you’ve probably been through it once already.”
“I have been there before.”
Rebecca shrugged. The next rainforest they would visit was probably Arsene’s island, just like in the original.
“It will probably be a tough road. Many cadets will give up along the way, and if they don’t find the completion conditions, they will have a really terrible time.”
“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“Go ahead.”
“Don’t second graders have survival classes?”
Rebecca was silent for a moment at my question, as if choosing her answer.
“Starting from the second year, you will receive more realistic training… but there is almost no survival training.”
So, what this means is that survival training is exclusive to first-year students.
I understand. Unlike second-year students, first-year students lack experience, so the educational direction is set to throw them various situations so that they can adapt to the environment and develop their senses.
In the original, the first year course was the most fun. Of course, this is limited to the first time, when everything is new.
“I wanted to point out a few things since I have been helped by you before.”
“Are you going to give me a tip?”
“If it’s a tip, then it’s a tip. At least it’s better than being thrown onto an island with no clues.”
The front seat was empty, but Rebecca didn’t sit down. Judging from the documents she was holding in her arms, she must have found me by chance as she passed by.
“Of course, if you think it would be useless interference, then there’s nothing I can do.”
Rebecca paused for a moment and glanced at me, pretending not to notice.
It’s not like I don’t care whether I listen or not, but I decided to just listen since it seemed like Rebecca wanted to talk.
“Honestly, it’s a bit overwhelming. They just show you a tropical rainforest without any information, so it’s hard to get a sense of what’s going on.”
I leaned back against the back of the chair, almost as if I was lying down. I felt like my consumed magical power was recharging a little faster. It was probably just my mood. There was no setting where magical power would recharge faster depending on the position.
As my sagging voice was drawing to a close, Rebecca cleared her throat and continued.
“I can’t tell you everything, but you’re right about what you’re thinking. From being thrown into a rainforest to having to undergo survival training.”
Rebecca’s face brightened, although she didn’t show it.
Probably no one else would notice. It was such a small change, and only I, who unknowingly spent a lot of time with Rebecca, would notice it.
“Arsene’s side will probably not give you any information. They will leave you in a difficult situation without telling you what to do on the island or what the purpose of this training is.”
“Is it more difficult because it’s the last training before vacation?”
“Arsene probably didn’t intend it that way, but it probably will. As it is the last training of the first semester, it will be a training with a lot of meaning for the cadets as well.”
After this training, I’ll be able to go home, something like that.
Of course, I won’t go. If I go home, there’s a greater risk of running into Duke Esperland or other people of interest. If I have free time, they might just throw me a mission.
So rather than going home, I thought I would stay in Arsene or do something else.
“There is one thing I want to tell you.”
Rebecca raised her index finger. For a moment, I got goosebumps because the sight of her was similar to the behavior of an angel I had once seen.
“At Arsen, we don’t do meaningless training. Rather than making you waste your time in meaningless ways, we’d rather assign you an outside mission.”
Up to that point, I know that part. It may seem meaningless on the surface, but there is a reason for training at Arsene.
Interpersonal combat training is literally about learning skills for dealing with people, and experiential activities such as gate raiding are designed to develop cadets’ sense of real-life combat.
The various survival trainings conducted by Arsen are in the same vein. Hunters working in the field also face unexpected situations all the time, so they must be able to survive in any situation.
Rebecca still seemed to have a lot to say. It was a sight that was astonishing to me as I watched it.
“So, Arsen, you should think carefully about why you were thrown on this island. If you put your heads together and discuss it, you will definitely find an answer. And this time, you are here. You will be able to get through it.”
“I think you’re overestimating me.”
“I’m talking about everything you’ve shown me so far, plus everything else.”
Rebecca’s words probably implied that there was no way you, a member of Esperland, could not do it.
It’s not an entirely unfounded trust. In Esperland, children were pushed into all kinds of difficult places, and only the ones who survived were accepted into the family.
In other words, the clan members who survived the coming-of-age ceremony are strong people who completed a rigorous training course.
Among them, there are those who survived simply because they were strong (Johann), those who survived because they made cool-headed decisions (Camille), and those who survived by joining forces (Ciel, Sirena).
Of course I have too.
Even if you look at me, I have a record of surviving until the end during the last cold weather survival training. It may vary depending on the situation and conditions, but the arduous training I went through in Esperland was ultimately helpful to me.
The assassins from Esperland are all unusual. In terms of background, only Serin Annette and Kai Alma are comparable to those from Esperland.
“I don’t know if it will work out or not. There are so many things that are unclear.”
“It will be okay.”
I held back a snort of laughter. Rebecca was probably talking about this training, but I was talking about this training and beyond.
So, it was a little different from what Rebecca thought, but I just let it go.
“And I’m telling you this as your senior.”
Rebecca glanced at her watch and took a few steps back. The time she had finally squeezed out was running out.
“Never give up. I can tell you that much for sure.”
With those words, Rebecca turned around. It was the first time I had seen her cheering me on like that, and for a moment I wondered if this was the Rebecca I knew.
Still, as Rebecca said, we can look forward with a little positivity.
Originally, she should have been the one who was fighting and getting on Kyle’s nerves with the group.
However, the fight between the student council and the first-year students never broke out, and both sides continued their lives in Arsen without any problems. They don’t treat each other like chickens, but they are becoming something similar.
The upcoming Academy Exchange, Professor Björn, and even a comfortable life after the ending, which is still far away.
The future may seem bleak, but there is no reason to be pessimistic, as Rebecca says.
Just seeing Rebecca, who originally disappeared, alive and well is motivation enough.
There is no reason why I can’t do anything since I can do it. That was the moment I got up with that thought.
“Excuse me, Mr. Zion. I had something to ask you.”
“… … ?”
“Has the student body president gone now?”
Airi was lurking in the distance and was approaching me quickly. I didn’t notice because I was talking to Rebecca, but it looked like she had been waiting for quite some time.
As it happened, I also had something to do with Airi.
“Welcome, Iri.”
“yes?”
“Come and spar with me. With my bare hands.”
At the unexpected request for a duel, Airi tilted her head.
“Suddenly?”