The Villain is Too Good at Sniping - Chapter 147



Only Krnovel

Episode 147

Episode 147. Things That Will Not Be Remembered (1)

“Then, Zion, you will also participate in the team event?”

“You have to participate in the team event.”

It’s not just because of the side objectives of this main quest. I checked Professor Edinburgh, who would be a variable, and left some time blank so I could go out at any time.

If Professor Edinburgh were to do anything stupid in the team match, he would be stopped, and if necessary, he would be subdued before he could even get involved. To that end, he spent the entire summer vacation traveling around the Arsen site, making thorough preparations.

[Don’t drink too much. Know your drinking capacity. Avoid fights with colleagues.]

The three cautions written in the anonymous (Raina) note were as follows. I wondered if it was okay for a professor to be like this, but surprisingly, Professor Raina often shows a soft side in this area.

There are three caveats, but Professor Reina only wants to convey one thing.

“Just one drink.”

It’s not just grades that are important, but it’s also important to build camaraderie with your teammates when competing in team events.

Although Kyle is not here, all the cadets who are participating in the team event are gathered here. From Serin Annette to Gardner Meridian, even the ones who don’t usually show up at events like this are all gathered here now.

It didn’t feel bad to just stare blankly at the fire together. It was enough to make us forget for a moment that this was just the calm before the storm.

“So, Serene Annette, how do you feel about Jin?”

“If you hadn’t let your guard down, you wouldn’t have been so easily defeated.”

“Are you one of those people who let your guard down too?”

“I lost the last fight, but I will win next time.”

I can lose once, but I won’t lose twice. Serin Annette was solemnly reminiscing about the past sparring. As the small talk continued, Ashley Silvergarden suddenly stood up.

“What is it, Ashley? Where are you?”

“Where was Kyle Ivanstairs’ room?”

“I think it was behind the student union building, why all of a sudden?”

“I don’t think it’s right to just leave Kyle out.”

Esili’s plate was laden with finely chopped meat. Elin hesitated for a moment and then followed Esili. I watched the two of them leave and got up to get some fresh air.

But Gardner and Serin looked at me at the same time.

“Hey, Zion. Are you sure you’re going to participate in this group event? You’re not dropping out in the middle.”

“That’s true. But why?”

“Then try contacting Lara Steelheiden. She’s been quiet since the day before yesterday. Did she go out somewhere?”

I couldn’t understand what Gardner was saying.

“What does that mean?”

“Lara Steelheiden is also participating in this group event. But she’s been quiet since the day before yesterday. She hasn’t come to camp and we haven’t been able to contact her.”

Contact with Lara Steelheiden was cut off. Gardner said it was no big deal, but I felt my [sense] go up. Even if the timing was bad, it couldn’t have been this bad.

There are many thoughts that come to mind. Maybe he is resting because he is tired from preparing for the exchange, or maybe he simply fell asleep every time we contacted him. Or maybe he had other plans and didn’t have the energy to check the contact.

But my [intuition] just doesn’t react to that. I have a strong feeling that something is wrong.

“So, try contacting him. You were close with him. First of all, you need him to research the destruction of the truth or whatever, but what kind of errands does he have…?”

“… You went on an errand?”

“Uh. Professor Björn, running an errand.”

The moment I heard that, the awkward smile that had been on my lips completely disappeared.

My watch blinked quietly. There was a message from Sebastian.

[Sebastian: I have completed the investigation you entrusted to me before.]

[Sebastian: Exion Vanter is a pseudonym. Exion Van Ivanter, Inquisitor of the Holy Church. That is the man’s real name.]

My head started to hurt. At the same time, it felt like some of the missing puzzle pieces were starting to fall into place.

***

Professor Björn, the final boss of Act 2, is an enemy who appears from within Arsene, just like Rebecca.

Rebecca was turned into a villain because of the production team’s malice. As the student council president, she tried to control Kyle, but she only caused conflict and did not try to kill anyone. That’s why many people studied the development branch that would allow Rebecca to pass without being caught.

Whatever it was, Rebecca didn’t become corrupted on her own. She just became a villain by misfortune as the trait [Ghost of the Sword] inside her was manifested.

On the other hand, Professor Björn, who is confronted in Act 2, does not have the same characteristics as Rebecca. He acts purely on his own will and puts this world in danger. As a result, Arsene suffers damage on a different scale than in the Rebecca incident.

The incident that started it all was the disappearance of Lara Stillheiden.

-Lara Steelheiden is gone.

-You were close friends with Lara Steelheiden, right? Any idea?

Lara suddenly disappears while carrying out a task requested by Professor Björn. The professors track down Lara Stillheiden’s whereabouts and realize that a similar student has disappeared in the past, so they ask the player for help.

The player, with Arsene’s support, begins to pursue Lara Stillheiden, only to realize that Professor Björn is behind it.

At the same time, Kyle finds Lara Stillheiden and tries to escape with her… but they fail and are captured together. The final boss fight of Act 2 begins when the player rescues them both.

… That’s the extent of the original story.

Originally, it was a disappearance that would occur after the exchange war. Now, that premise has collapsed.

The question of “Why on earth?” quickly disappeared, because before the question could grow, a dry system alarm came to mind.

[… By achieving the conditions, the main quest has been renewed.]

–[New Goal]–

?[Main] Professor Björn’s Subjugation Battle (New!)

Objective: To stop Professor Björn’s plan.

? Reward: ?

*Additional objectives

? Investigate the research facility of Kion in the Gray Zone

? Gather two or more colleagues

? Blowing up the magic tower in the research agreement

———-

The final chapter of Act 2, which was originally supposed to take place after the exchange battle, is unfolding before my eyes.

I don’t know why Professor Björn is so impatient. However, if you think about the fact that in the original, the reason Professor Björn took action was because he had ‘nothing more to gain from Arsene’, you can probably figure out the answer.

He was not originally affiliated with Arsene. He was a magician who worked at the Magic Tower, and he came to Arsene after receiving an offer to take up a professorship there.

That is also why Arsene tolerates Professor Björn’s arrogant behavior.

Although the number of years he has been a professor at Arsen is not as long as other professors, Professor Björn has already participated in and helped with events large and small. He has also grown into an indispensable person, providing advice on the operation of the academy. Professor Björn is an irreplaceable person.

But as I said before, Professor Björn is only staying as a professor because he received an offer from Arsene. He does not feel a great sense of belonging to Arsene, nor does he have any sense of loyalty or duty. He is someone who can leave Arsene without any regrets once he has achieved what he is pursuing.

Up until now, he had been holding down the professorship because his personal research achievements were lacking, but he has decided to end his role as a professor.

‘There are two cases.’

Either Professor Björn had completed his research, or he had long ago given up on his research, realizing that it was all futile.

I don’t know what Professor Björn’s judgment was, but the fact that Lara Stillheiden is missing means that he is grasping at straws.

‘Anyway, the situation has already happened.’

The moment the truth about the disappearance of the cadets is revealed, he can no longer stay in Arsene. He will either complete his research and destroy the world, or fail and die.

Originally, it was supposed to be Kyle Evanstairs, but as time went by, a problem arose. Kyle was lying in the hospital room. However, the watch vibrated to silence my worries.

[Arsen AC: An urgent message to all AC participants.]

[Arsen AC: Lara Stillheiden, a first-year magic student, has gone missing. If you have seen her, please report to this channel.]

A group message from Arsen. I’m sure all the cadets in Arsen received the same message as I did.

[Kyle: Zion, did you hear? Lara Steelheiden is missing.]

[Kyle: I’m thinking of going to look for it with Elin. What about you?]

The image of Kyle getting up from his hospital bed, wrapped in bandages, flashed through my mind. The image of Ashley and Elin trying to stop Kyle from pushing himself too hard was a bonus.

I hesitated for a moment. Kyle is still recovering, and we need to prepare for the team battle. But that would be meaningless if Lara Stillheiden disappears forever.

The exchange competition is held every year, and every year, many cadets compete against each other. However, there is only one Lara Stillheiden who has the talent to become a great magician. And above all, if Professor Björn really finished his research, the world could really end.

But I had time to prepare. While the other cadets were out playing during the summer vacation, I stayed in Arsen and prepared for the exchange and to face Professor Björn.

It was unexpected that the final battle of Act 2 was brought forward, but unlike when I faced Rebecca last time, I am prepared to deal with him this time.

Common sense would dictate that we should try to dissuade Kyle, who has not fully recovered yet.

Considering the final battle of Act 2, if Kyle can just get to the final battle safely, he has a chance of winning. I picked up my watch and sent a reply to Kyle.

[Zion: Gray Zone Kion. Investigate the research facility B-13.]

[Kyle: Kion? Aren’t you going too far out of the blue?]

[Zion: I have a guess as to where it is.]

[Zion: I don’t think you can do it alone, so take Esili and Elin with you.]

[Kyle: Zion, you? Are you coming too?]

[Zion: I… … .]

I hesitated for a moment as I wrote down my reply.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to storm into the research facility with Kyle here. If something else were to happen, you’d be able to get out there right away, and you’d also be able to find out why the final battle of Act 2 was brought forward.

[Zion: You guys go yourselves. I will act separately nearby.]

But if I’m tied down by Professor Björn, I won’t be able to leave the place where Kyle is having his final battle.

And now Arsene has a visitor, Hilda, who wasn’t originally there. Since we don’t know what the Mine Association will do, we need someone to check on them.

At this point, I am the only one who knows Hilda’s true identity. In the end, I am the only one who can respond to the variable.

[Esili: I heard about it.]

[Esili: What are you trying to do?]

Just as I was about to close the chat window, another message arrived from Ashley Silvergarden.

[Zion: I just have my own things to do.]

It was a meaningful statement with a bit of a connotation, but that was all I could say at the time.