The Villain is Too Good at Sniping

18. The Protagonist (3)

– The interview has ended.

– Next, please enter, A-991 trainee.

The grueling entrance exam of Arsene had finally ended. I sat in the waiting room, checking my Glock.

I had used a total of four bullets.

Three bullets for the other trainees I encountered during the test, and one lightning-attribute bullet for Serin Anett.

Honestly, I was a bit worried that the bullet wouldn’t work on Serin Anett, but fortunately, she couldn’t block the fully charged bullet. The buff must have played a role in the surprise attack from behind.

This confirmed the power of my bullets. If I used different attribute bullets, most trainees could be countered.

It was fortunate that I had come up with a weird concept play. The tricky build I had created seemed to work quite well in this world.

Among them was Serin Anett, who had ranked first.

“Let’s see, so now there are……”

Out of the twenty bullets, sixteen were left.

If I asked Esperand to produce more, they would make them, but I wasn’t too keen on it.

Considering why I came to Arsene, I didn’t want to catch Esperand’s attention by ordering bullets.

If I could make bullets using my magical power like hunters active on the front lines, the story would be different, but it was impossible at my current level.

I sat in the waiting room like the other trainees. My score was second place, and the gaze on me was not ordinary.

“That guy? Isn’t that the one called Shion Illeon?”

“Yeah, it looks like it, considering he’s carrying a pistol……”

“He’s second place. I thought he would self-eliminate and lose all his points.”

Curious gazes and envious gazes crossed each other.

“What did he hit?”

“A pistol, huh……”

Some of them were even frowning, probably the trainees who had been hit by me.

Well, I understood.

I had fought while barely following the rules.

I didn’t know how others felt, but from the perspective of those who were hit, it must have been infuriating. They probably had a lot to say.

Judging by their expressions, it seemed like they thought they would win if they fought one-on-one. But I had my own unique abilities, and it was only natural that I would win.

However, it’s better for them if I made Kyle number one. Even if we achieved good results at Arsene, it would be meaningless if the world was destroyed.

So, for the future of this world, my comfortable old age, and a peaceful life at Arsene, you guys should try to get along with me from now on.

What can I say? I’m a despicable guy. It’s better for me to leave an image like that.

Anyway, the skills I learned from my family were all miscellaneous skills, so I couldn’t make a good impression no matter what I did.

Fortunately, there’s little chance of getting into trouble for no reason. I’ve already shown them how I’ll take revenge if they mess with me during the entrance exam.

“Ugh…”

Of course, there was another kind of example.

As the old saying goes, a thief who gets caught is the one who gets punished.

I’m currently sitting here, feeling like I’m under interrogation. The reason is obvious – my own withdrawal.

The exam is over, and now it’s time for individual consultations with the professors. I’ve heard it’s similar to a career counseling session.

But I probably won’t hear anything good. That’s why I’m worried. From what I’ve heard, I’m already on the professors’ blacklist.

They won’t specifically point out my tricky play, but that’s the problem.

I did well until the end, but then I messed up on my own.

From my perspective, I did it for the sake of this world, but to the professors who watched the exam, it must have looked like an incomprehensible action.

But I can’t explain my situation to them either.

It would’ve been better if I had lost to Kyle instead. This kind of thinking always comes too late and causes problems.

“What do I do…”

Even I feel a significant burden, and the professors who watched this scene in real-time must be feeling even more burdened. And that burden will surely lead to some kind of action.

Especially, the one who’s problematic is Professor Reina from the Palace Department, who’s in charge of the overall entrance exam.

In the original story, if you want to play the role of a savior, you have to go through her. As the professor in charge of the Palace Department, she has a strong sense of pride in being a savior.

Professor Reina must have watched my entire fight.

I thought I was a good example of a savior, but in the end, I threw away the game like the current 2nd place, Sion Illeonhart.

I’ll probably hear some good words.

“But why are you 2nd place? You could’ve been 1st place.”

“Are you a savior? You’re up against two inspectors, and you just can’t win, right?”

“No, that’s not it. You have to fight to know. You didn’t get 2nd place just by luck.”

There are all sorts of speculation going around. It’s like they’re discussing me.

Maybe those who watched the exam are thinking of a grand, tragic final battle.

It’s regrettable, but there’s nothing I can do. If Kyle and the main characters do well, then they’ll survive, and so will I.

– Next. A-839, Sion Illeonhart. Please enter.

My number was called soon after.

The counseling room door, which opens on both sides, felt like a giant beast’s mouth.

***

As I opened the counseling room door and entered, a slender elf was standing there.

Even from a distance, her pointed ears caught my attention. Her platinum blonde hair and emerald green eyes, reminiscent of an esper’s aura, were truly a living example of an elf.

Professor Reina from the Palace Department.

She called out my name.

“A-839, Sion Illeonhart.”

“Yes, Professor Reina.”

As I responded, Professor Reina raised an eyebrow. She didn’t expect me to know her name.

“Do you know me?”

It’s natural for her to ask that question.

Professor Reina’s past is shrouded in mystery. Originally, she was a high-ranking noble in an elf kingdom, but she hid her identity and became a professor at Arsene.

Since she doesn’t reveal her true self even outside of Arsene, it’s normal for someone from outside Arsene not to know her.

That’s only within the setting, anyway.

“Yes, I know.”

He’s one of the characters who appeared as a strong supporting role in the original work, so it’s not like I wouldn’t know him.

Professor Raina is one of the representative good-named characters in the original work. She’s the typical mentor figure who gets defeated in the final battle against the last boss, so it’s not a problem.

Her gaze, which seemed to see right through me, was sharp. Though not comparable to the Thousand-Mile Eye, she was an elf with a certain degree of insight.

“I’ve heard a little about it before.”

Professor Raina had a face full of questions.

But it’s not a lie. In the list of names on my wall, Professor Raina’s name was also there. Along with an explanation of her being a high-ranking official in the Elf Kingdom, worthy of attention.

“I’ll quickly get to the point, since there are people waiting.”

Professor Raina, who had been chatting, closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her gaze had become more serious.

“The entire entrance exam process is recorded. The professors, including myself, watched the matches in real-time and scored them accordingly.”

Up to that point, it was the same as what I had been told beforehand.

“You, too, showed us a great fight. The students waiting in the waiting room were also watching. We didn’t expect you to give up the first place like that.”

Professor Raina, the leader of the Archery Department, is a mentor who trains her students with strong pride in her profession.

I could sense a deep disappointment from Professor Raina. It seemed she had high expectations, which I had shattered.

I was about to swallow my saliva when Professor Raina suddenly burst out laughing.

“I’m curious why you did that, but I won’t ask. You must have had your reasons.”

Professor Raina’s words were the opposite of what I had expected.

I thought I would get scolded, but instead, Professor Raina was smiling.

“As a mentor, it’s already commendable that you made it to second place. Normally, you’d be the first to get eliminated by the concentrated attacks of the magic and sword classes. You showed a good fight, and that’s enough to satisfy me.”

I didn’t know whether to thank her or what to do.

For now, I maintained my silence. This wasn’t a place to be praised, anyway.

“But the other professors think differently.”

…Yeah, that’s it. The main point has been brought up. I had somewhat anticipated it.

“The students who saw Arsen’s student, who was supposed to show a sincere attitude, voluntarily withdraw, and all the freshmen witnessed it.”

“Some professors say that’s not good, and it might create a bad atmosphere. We need to show a proper example so that similar incidents don’t happen in the future. It’s necessary for Arsen’s dignity.”

“So, we’re going to give you a penalty. The academic department has decided on it. It’s unavoidable, given the circumstances.”

Professor Raina pointed her finger at me, making a gun shape with her hand. It seemed she was aware of my Glock.

It was a simple gesture, but Professor Raina could actually fire magic bullets with just that hand movement, which was a problem.

Of course, I didn’t think anything would happen, but my spine still felt chilly.

Professor Raina lowered her hand. As a representative of the academy, she declared sternly:

“Shion Il Reyhart, you receive a 5-point penalty.”

It’s not like I can just let it slide.

I had expected to receive a penalty, and it’s not a big deal. The problem is the severity of the penalty imposed.

In a normal situation, you’d receive 1 or 2 points at most, but now, I’ve received 5 points at once.

If the penalty points reach 20, I’ll be forced to drop out and be expelled from Arsen. I can offset them with merits, but receiving penalties is considered a significant shame for nobles.

What if I accumulate penalties and get expelled? I’d be kicked out of my family, too.

Even if I return to Esperanza after getting expelled, I don’t know if I’d be accepted back. By then, it would be beyond Diana’s level of influence.

It seems the professors want to create a proper example this time.

No matter how I think about it, 5 points are too many.

Perhaps this is also the influence of the difficulty level being set to hell. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a subtle sense of unease.

“However, I think you showed a good fight to the instructors, so I want to give you a reward.”

But then, I heard an unexpected remark. I tilted my head, wondering what it was.

“It’s not often that an instructor gets a high score in the entrance exam. Especially you, Si-on Il-leon-heart, you used methods that no other instructor has ever used before to get second place.”

I roughly guessed what those methods might be. Whether it’s good or bad, it’s likely that a new clause about disguise will be added to the rules from the next exam.

“Firstly, you showed a great fight.”

“You didn’t give up until the end, even in an unfavorable situation, and got second place.”

“Lastly, you set a good example for the instructors.”

“I want to highly evaluate this.”

“The reward I’m giving you is 5 points. So, it’s +5. The penalty points you’ve been given will be zero.”

I felt a sudden sense of relief.

Of course, there wouldn’t be an instructor like me. There’s a precedent, so I wouldn’t be ostracized by the professors.

But even considering that, is this really okay?

Even if I showed both a good and bad example, it doesn’t seem like I deserve a reward.

Professor Reina added a brief explanation.

“According to the school rules, exceptional students who achieve outstanding results or pioneer new fields can be given special points. The points I gave you are all legitimate, so don’t worry.”

“Ah, yes…”

I just stood there, feeling awkward.

Special points or not, 5 points are too many.

It means I’ve caught Professor Reina’s eye. She must have gone out of her way to give me that.

“Then, shall we end the formal talk and hear your story? According to your submitted career plan, you want to become a Hunter after graduation…”

As I thought that the penalty points were too light, Professor Reina smiled faintly.

[Main Quest Complete: Entrance Exam]

Bonus Goal Achievement Reward: Talent Experience +100

The favorability of ‘Arkana Den Reina Eldiond’ has increased slightly.