Chapter 76

“It worked, it finally worked!”

Thanks to the know-how I taught her, Hiresia finally succeeded. It seemed like the first time I saw her so happy about something other than delicious meat. She was so delighted that she was bouncing around with White, who until just moments ago was her worst enemy… No, she was actually tossing White around like a celebration.

White, treated like a toy, was tossed high into the air and then caught repeatedly.

Yelp!

Even the mighty White let out a cry like a common mutt, overwhelmed by the situation.

“Calm down, calm down! This is animal abuse, animal abuse!”

I hurriedly stopped Hiresia. It looked like she was about to incur divine punishment for her actions.

Only then did she put White down on the ground.

White must have been furious.

But he didn’t bite her.

Instead, he shook his head as if to say, “What kind of weird elf is this?” and took a few steps back.

He really does seem human at times like this.

“Haha, you were a worthy opponent. I acknowledge you, White. You are the best among dogs.”

…Weren’t you treating him like just any dog a moment ago?

“I also express my gratitude to you. It was a good method.”

“Huh, it was nothing…”

I shrugged my shoulders.

It’s rare for me to act all cool in front of Hiresia, so I might as well take the opportunity now.

Normally, she would look at me with a “What are you doing?” expression, but this time she seemed to acknowledge it.

“Ah, I feel refreshed. This is what it feels like to have your mind at ease.”

Hiresia smiled, looking relieved.

Then, she suddenly changed the subject.

“Are you doing well in your academy life?”

“Yes, of course, I’m doing very well.”

“You seem too lonely for that.”

“What?”

“Hmm… I happened to see you. By chance, in the cafeteria, eating alone and looking forlorn.”

—–

Ah, so that was it.

She must have seen me sitting alone in the cafeteria, eating by myself.

Honestly, that scene could be seen as the epitome of a loner, and I wouldn’t have anything to say against it.

But the real loners can’t even eat alone in such places.

Anyway, it’s not like I don’t have friends to eat with.

There’s Allen Benesse, a fellow extra classmate… definitely from a prestigious family, but still.

I just prefer to eat alone. It’s more comfortable.

“Ah, well, I just find it more comfortable to eat alone. It’s not because I’m lonely or anything.”

“……I see, I understand.”

Hiresia patted my shoulder with a sympathetic look as if to encourage me.

No, really, it’s not like that. It’s genuinely because it’s more comfortable.

Surely the result of the sudden quest isn’t to be pitied by a high elf in such an event?

“But, you know. It might be fine in the cafeteria, but wouldn’t it be troublesome if you’re alone in the hunting competition?”

Unexpectedly, Hiresia brought up the hunting competition.

The hunting competition.

An event held around this time each year, hosted by the Capital’s Public Safety Office.

Despite its name, the competition has nothing to do with hunting animals.

It’s about monster hunting.

The city of Lepheria borders a fairly rugged mountain range to the north.

The starting point of that mountain range is right here at Harkin Mountain.

There are almost no monsters on Harkin Mountain, but that’s because the Public Safety Office conducts periodic monster exterminations every year.

This periodic monster extermination is the hunting competition.

Monsters, with their incomparable reproductive rates to humans, explode in numbers during the food-abundant summer.

However, when the harsh winter comes, there isn’t enough food to support the increased numbers.

So, beforehand, the most worthless and unnecessary beings are expelled from the group.

Humans call this monster purge.

Monsters expelled through the monster purge inevitably flood into other areas.

Therefore, during this time, the lords of each region prepare to exterminate the incoming monsters with soldiers and mercenaries, on high alert.

The capital is no exception.

However, it has an unparalleled level of security.

Being the center of the Order, the Order’s power, the Paladin Corps, is stationed here.

The Tower of Light is also filled with capable mages.

And there’s the Royal Lepheria Academy, overflowing with excellent students and faculty.

At this point, the monsters are almost to be pitied.

‘But anyway.’

I’m also participating in the hunting competition.

I qualified by placing second in the archery evaluation.

With the top 10 qualifying, I made it quite comfortably.

But.

‘I only know that guy… Allen Benesse.’

Allen Benesse.

The only other common classmate who barely made it into the top 10 and will be participating with me.

The rest are all from the royal and noble classes, so I don’t really have any close friends among them.

Even Elaine, who’s not good at archery, isn’t there.

But now, Hiresia is throwing me a lifeline.

Should I take it or not?

It seems better to take it.

I’ve never participated in the hunting competition during the protagonist’s first year.

Meaning, aside from what I’ve heard, I don’t know anything.

‘So, it’s strangely hard to remember.

I quickly tried to recall.

And then.

‘Oh?’

I remembered.

There was some strange rumor about that day.

Rumors that several knights of the Order had gone missing.

However, since the Order firmly denied it and the hunting competition ended as usual, the rumor quickly faded.

‘Wait, isn’t this a bit suspicious?’

It smelled fishy to dismiss it as just a baseless rumor.

Intuition?

No, this was experience.

Having played the game countless times, I could sense the oddity in the game’s flow.

“Why aren’t you answering and just thinking to yourself?”

Hiresia looked at me as if I was strange.

“Ah. No, you’re right, senior. It would be a bit troublesome.”

I readily admitted.

I had made my decision.

Being alone in a place with unknown dangers is unsettling.

Allen would be more of a burden than help,

while Hiresia is a different story.

In an unexpected situation, there aren’t many more reliable companions than her.

So, this time, it’s right to ditch the burden and choose a top-tier companion.

“Huh, I knew you would say that. For you, I have a special offer. How about you accompany me that day?”

It was an expected but still shocking offer.

The academy’s popular figure was proposing to hang out with the academy’s troublemaker.

And to a man, no less.

‘This is going to make my back itch.’

Proudly the first among third-year female students in terms of the number of confessions received.

A truckload of men she’s rejected.

So, being by her side is just the right environment to become public enemy number one among men.

‘But I have to take it. It’s not the time to worry about that.’

“Ah, I’m happy about it. Thank you, senior.”

“Hehe, of course, you should be grateful.”

Accepting her offer seemed to have put her in a good mood as well.

Seeing her like this made me think it was good that I didn’t refuse.

‘Bringing White has led to this connection.’

It was the butterfly effect in action.

The hunting competition is this weekend.

It’s only a few days away.

Originally, I planned to take it easy until the Infinite Tower practice, but now it seems I need to intensify my efforts and move up the schedule.

‘Let’s give it a shot.’

***

Lapit, the sophomore Common Class’s homeroom and philosophy professor, had another identity as a ‘Professor’ in the Red Rain organization.

Another being in the academy who knew his true identity was the ‘Witch,’ also a Red Rain executive, who reached out with tired eyes.

“Sleeping pills.”

“Sleeping pills?”

“I drank coffee and now I can’t sleep.”

Lapit looked at Riviera incredulously.

It’s good to have someone from the same organization in the academy, but it’s mentally exhausting when they’re too eccentric.

“Why are you looking for sleeping pills here? Don’t you know pharmacists have them?”

“The professor has everything, doesn’t he?”

“Who said that?”

“I heard it from Shadow.”

“That guy, really.”

Lapit grumbled.

‘Shadow’

He’s also one of the organization’s executives.

And he, too, was a peculiar character with an unpredictable personality.

A smart guy who openly mocks him to his face.

And yet, he acts naturally friendly as if he wants to dissect his brain.

“Here, take this.”

Lapit pulled a pill from his subspace pocket and tossed it. It was a paralyzing pill that could knock out an elephant in one go. It would kill a normal person, but for the Witch, it would be perfect for a good night’s sleep.

“Thanks. Is this the professor’s magical pocket that has everything?”

“Stop believing such nonsense.”

Lapit clicked his tongue.

But it wasn’t entirely nonsense.

Lapit’s subspace pocket was his research reference.

It contained everything from various books to rare gems, exotic medicinal herbs, and even legendary weapons.

So, there was some truth to Shadow’s words.

It was just annoying because Shadow said it.

“Ah.”

Riviera, about to swallow the pill, stopped.

“I can’t take it here. The sleeping environment is the worst.”

“Then go away.”

Lapit waved his hand irritably, signaling her to disappear quickly.

Riviera was about to fly out the window as usual but then stopped and turned around.

“Ah.”

“What now?”

Lapit asked, holding his forehead.

“Shadow asked if you could help.”

“With what?”

“Something about the hunting competition.”

“The hunting competition?”

Lapit adjusted his posture, realizing this wasn’t a light matter.

“Hmm…”

“Why all of a sudden? Is it an order from the Celestial Master?”

The Celestial Master.

The boss of Red Rain.

His orders carried absolute compulsion.

“No.”

Riviera shook her head.

If it were the Celestial Master’s order, she wouldn’t be unaware.

There would have been some contact.

That meant it was Shadow’s personal action.

It wasn’t against the organization’s rules.

Executives in the organization almost had unlimited freedom.

But, you know.

Freedom comes with responsibility.

Only death awaits those who can’t bear that responsibility.

‘Shadow isn’t that kind of guy.’

Because he’s strong.

Strong enough to bear the responsibility.

But still, it’s unsettling.

He’s too unpredictable.

“Why are you stirring things up when it’s not even the Celestial Master’s order?”

“Out of boredom.”

“Is that what he said?”

“Yeah.”

“Ha, really, not even a kid.”

Lapit sighed.

Then he continued.

“But why is he only telling you?”

“Because I’m trustworthy?”

It makes sense.

Birds of a feather flock together, so it’s natural for strange people to associate with other strange people.

“So, what did you say?”

“I’m the lowest scorer in archery.”

“Ah… I see.”

That meant she refused.

At least that was a relief.

If those two were involved, it would have been seriously worrying.

“I’ve said my piece, so I’ll leave now.”

“Wait, wait. So, he’s doing it alone?”

“Yeah.”

That answer somewhat reassured Lapit.

If Shadow was alone, things wouldn’t escalate too much.

There’s a limit to what one person can do.

Things can’t get too out of hand right now.

‘But still…’

Should I go check it out?

Lapit seriously considered it.

It was troubling because it was Shadow of all people.

“I’m going now.”

Whoosh.

Riviera disappeared out the window in an instant.

Lapit was left alone.

“Ah, suddenly I have something to worry about. This is so annoying.”

And so, Lapit was left to fret over it for quite some time.