The Villain is Too Good at Sniping - Chapter 144



Only Krnovel

Episode 144

Episode 144. Tournament (3)

“Arsene’s Kyle Ivanstair and the East Garden’s Yeonhee. The duel between the two will begin… … .”

It’s been a week since the exchange program opened.

The fight between Kyle Ivanstairs and the Nachalguigeom Yeonhee began. I didn’t watch the fight until the end. Now was not the time to watch the fight between the two.

Kyle and Yeonhee’s fight is an important event, but what’s really important is whether they can safely hold a team match like the other academies think they can.

To cut to the chase, Kyle was unable to defeat Nachalgwigeom Yeonhee. The fight ended in a draw. With both of them losing out on the court at the same time, the two of them ended up winning the tournament together.

I saw Kyle bickering with Yeonhee. Honestly, I thought Kyle would win, but this part is following the original story.

“You will each start from a different area. The dungeon is full of obstacles that will confuse you. The team that overcomes all of these obstacles and reaches the end of the dungeon first will win.”

The exchange was proceeding smoothly, putting my worries to rest.

It was thanks to the advice of Ethel D. Bison, a third-year student. Although she was unable to participate in this exchange, she was able to provide indirect help to the cadets who participated.

“If there’s a way in, there’s a way out. The question is when that will open… But when I think about the exchanges I’ve had before, it’s something like this.”

“Are you telling me to catch the boss monster, senior?”

“Ah, ah? That’s right, I’m talking about boss monsters… but there are more ways to escape the dungeon than you might think without having to defeat the boss! More importantly, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? Sion!”

Although he said that, Ethel’s advice was meaningless as Kyle confronted the boss monster and defeated it. Considering that at the same time, a cadet from another academy was wandering around the entrance to the dungeon, it was a remarkable achievement.

The category I’m competing in is the ‘Glatton Champs’, a team event. It’s a tournament where teams compete against opposing teams, which was held last time at Arsene as a training exercise for individual matches.

Luckily, there were still two days left until the Glatton Champions League, during which time I thoroughly searched the Arsene grounds to see if I had missed anything.

As I was selected as Arsene’s staff, I paid close attention to all the places where this exchange was held. There were no problems with the facilities, and there were no unusual things that could be seen in [Thousand Eyes]. The only person of interest is Professor Joachim of Edinburgh, but he is currently obsessed with Lilia, not me.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t change Lilia’s determination. I couldn’t stop the sparring between the senior and junior. That wasn’t something I could stop. I was just a staff member who helped with the event, and I wasn’t the one who led the event.

I don’t know if I could get Rebecca’s help, but it would most likely be poison to me.

‘The exchange must proceed as scheduled.’

If that premise collapses, the main story from now on could be completely messed up. That’s why I finished the work by scanning for factors that could become variables in advance.

But if Professor Edinburgh starts to come out, things will get a bit tricky. Even in Joachim, he is called Professor Torai, so he is very difficult to keep track of.

The night after finishing all the day’s schedule, the Arsene camp was in a festive mood as always.

“Now, cheers! Juniors! You worked hard!”

“We’re still freshmen?! Senior Celia!”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Since we’ve won this much, the professors will pretend not to know. But where did Zion go? He won’t be seen at the exchange match for the time being.”

“Zion was definitely over there earlier… Huh? He’s not there? Hey, Kyle! Where is Zion… .”

I left the camp, avoiding Celia Leppard’s eyes. It was important to build camaraderie with my fellow soldiers, but I had a strong feeling that it was not my place.

And I had a promise. I headed to the gym. The fight between Airi and Lilia was tomorrow.

***

Although it has now been discontinued, it is said that in the past, a special event was held at every exchange match where upperclassmen and freshmen would compete against each other.

Theory classes are important, but ultimately, what is more important is how well you can perform in real life. That is why all three major academies place importance on practical skills. That is why the practical score is set higher than the score you get in theory.

The gym has a training simulator. It is a training facility that is very close to real combat, where you compete against virtual enemies.

However, there is a limit to this. After all, no matter what you do, you cannot keep up with the experience gained from actual combat. Therefore, cadets who have experienced a lot of actual combat or have undergone training equivalent to that have an overwhelming advantage.

Arsene has been training rigorously to produce cadets who are strong in real combat, and the results are about to be revealed before our eyes.

“Then, we will begin the duel between Iri de Sugarmond and Lilia de Sugarmond.”

Early morning, the arena.

I saw Airi de Sugarmond going up to the arena. Airi looked around anxiously, but did not let go of the hilt of her sword. Even though she had prepared so diligently yesterday, she still seemed uneasy.

-There are also cases where they don’t accept the fight at all.

-Isn’t that the same as running away?

-It’s better than losing. You know better than anyone how your sister will react.

I advised Airi that if she didn’t have the confidence to defeat Lilia, then one option would be to not fight her at all.

The intention was to move on without mixing swords at all. In the end, we would have to wait and see who would win or lose, but not responding at all was also one of the methods.

-That can’t be.

-why?

-If I back off here… maybe.

Airi refused. She chose to confront Lilia. If she ran away from here, it would be a disgrace to Lilia and Sugarmond’s honor.

It was an expected result. That’s why I told Airi a way to deal a big blow to Lilia, even if she couldn’t defeat her.

I don’t know if it will work. I’ve seen it countless times and even tried it myself, but in the end, it’s not me who mixes Lilia and the sword, it’s Airi.

“Arsene’s first-year cadet, Airi de Sugarmond. Your opponent is Joachim’s second-year cadet, Lilia de Sugarmond.”

Lilia de Sugarmond stood with her back to the dry applause. There was not a shred of hesitation in Lilia’s eyes. She stepped onto the arena with a dry and cold gaze.

“First, a handicap is given to Irie De Sugarmond. The handicap is… … .”

“There is no need for a handicap.”

The host was momentarily speechless. The scene in the arena was being broadcasted to the public, so it was clearly a broadcasting accident.

Well, that’s surprising. No freshman has ever faced an upperclassman without a handicap.

“What are you thinking, Iri?”

“That’s exactly what I mean. I’ll deal with you without any handicaps.”

“I don’t know if he’s confident or if he’s given up.”

Lilia laughed in vain. It was a reaction she had not expected at all.

“…There is no giving up.”

However, my [Clairvoyance] read a certain emotion that flashed through Lilia’s eyes for a moment. Lilia was not proud or dispirited, but rather felt a desire to win.

“Then, at the request of your opponent, Airi de Sugarmond, we will proceed with the duel without a handicap. Are you sure there are no objections? Miss Airi de Sugarmond.”

“yes.”

Airi spoke softly and held the hilt of her sword with both hands. The host looked back and forth between Airi and Lilia, nodded, and left the arena.

“With that introduction out of the way, I will now begin the sparring.”

The audience’s eyes were focused on the arena. However, the arena itself was completely silent. Until the bell rang to signal the start of the duel, Airi and Lilia just stared at each other in silence.

The atmosphere was calm and static, without any emotion. However, the moment the duel began, a completely different, alien atmosphere swept through the stands.

Kwaaang-!

A loud explosion echoed beyond the roar. Lilia had launched a preemptive strike. The sword, which had surged forward like a lightning bolt, slammed down vertically, and Airi blocked it.

The display mounted on the wall was showing Airi and Lilia. Airi blocked the attack and let it pass unharmed. Lilia laughed and stepped back.

“You seem to have been training quite hard, Airi. I thought you were just hanging out.”

“I tried my best.”

Lilia’s sword was smooth and free of any unnecessary elements. On the other hand, Airi clenched her teeth. Even though it looked like she was swinging it carelessly, it was a sword strike that could not be blocked without putting forth all her strength.

“Are you trying hard in your own way?”

Unlike Airi, Lilia seemed relaxed. It’s not that she doesn’t have a competitive spirit to win, but Lilia came to this position only to test Airi.

Lilia doesn’t use her full power. She adjusts her attack so that Airi can take it. She mixes in some clever moves so that the students and professors watching the fight don’t notice.

But you can’t avoid my eyes.

In fact, Lilia had used her full power once. It was the sword she had swung as soon as the duel began. Lilia had tried to end the fight in one go, but Airi blocked Lilia’s sword as if it were nothing.

As I watched, I felt a prick in my conscience. In some ways, I knew Lilia de Sugarmond better than Airi.

I have seen Lilia’s habits and fighting style for too long. If I had chosen a sword as my main weapon instead of a glock, I could have become Airi’s champion and taken her place.

But it’s not me who’s fighting, it’s Airi. That’s why I told Airi. Forget about making a preemptive strike, and focus only on defense for the first attack. If she can block it once, it’ll be easy from then on.

Airi must be feeling it now. That Lilia isn’t really treating her, but is testing her.

As if to prove it, Lilia didn’t even swipe Airi’s sword, but simply twisted her head to dodge.

“It seems like it wasn’t just empty words. You’ve been working hard, Iri.”

“… Don’t ignore me!”

“Do you think I’m ignoring you?”

“My sister is looking at me right now.”

Airi put away her sword for a moment.

“You’re not being sincere, Sister. If that’s not ignoring me, then what is it?”

“I’m not ignoring you, I’m giving you a handicap so you can deal with it.”

“I told you that you don’t need a handicap, sis.”

Originally, a handicap was given to the new students in this match. The host naturally expected Airi to ask for a handicap, and Lilia probably thought the same. However, Airi did not accept the handicap.

-I think you know more about your sister than I do.

– Sister… you’re stupid. It’s different now, but when I was little, it was like that.

-Then let’s devise a strategy based on that. Unlike me, you saw it for yourself.

-Sister, as an inspector, Lilia de Sugarmond.

Airi grabbed the hilt of her sword. She aimed the sword diagonally at her opponent and slowly raised it.

-I don’t want to win, I want to show something.

“I want to see my sister’s true skills.”

Calmly organized magical power enveloped Airi’s sword. Lilia adjusted her grip on the sword to counter it.

“You won’t be able to handle it at your current level.”

“Why are you deciding that on your own?”

Lilia didn’t answer Airi’s words. However, Lilia had already decided the answer in her mind.

Lilia doesn’t even want Airi to defeat her. She just wants to give Airi the confidence that she can survive the hardships of the swordsmith’s life.

After the fight, Lilia tells the player that Airi de Sugarmond has grown into a great swordsman. She says that while trying to protect Airi, she ended up becoming an obstacle to Airi.

I have taught Airi all sorts of tricks so far. From the time she dropped her sword, she has unknowingly taught herself countless techniques and tricks to defeat Lilia.

But in the end, Airi chose to confront Lilia’s sword that was blocking her with a straight attack. Perhaps Lilia also sensed that Airi was sincerely trying to challenge her.

“If you don’t get it, you’ll have to come back to Sugarmond.”

“that…….”

“It’s the fate you chose, Airi.”

Finally, Lilia picked up her sword. It was in exactly the same position as Airi. Airi hesitated for a moment, then shook her head and washed it away.

“I’m not going back to Sugarmond.”

With those words, Airi and Lilia simultaneously kicked the ground. Pink afterimages intersected.