The Villain is Too Good at Sniping

45. Hellish Team Project (4)

The hundreds of students gathered in the Geord auditorium, divided into teams, were a formidable number.

Although fewer than during the entrance exam, if we packed this many students into one place, the gates installed in the Geord auditorium would be overwhelmed. Unlike the warp gates scattered throughout the continent, this was a small-scale gate used only within Arsene.

Therefore, during this training, we would enter the gate in teams.

The dungeon we would conquer was completely random, and even Arsene didn’t know where we would end up. The only certainty was that we would be heading to one of the many mock dungeons prepared by Arsene.

In the original story, we could choose which dungeon to enter, but that was just a game mechanic.

“Then, let’s have the teams that are ready depart first.”

Now, all the 1st-year students were gathered, following the instructors’ instructions and entering the gate in sequence.

“Where are we going, really not telling us?”

“I don’t know… It seems like it’s really random.”

“What if we end up in a weird place?”

Since the number of students to be controlled was in the tens or hundreds, a corresponding number of instructors were dispatched this time as well. The scene was similar to the entrance exam, and most of the students who entered felt a sense of déjà vu.

Most of them looked anxious.

It’s okay if we’re in the city or the snowfield, but if we enter a swamp or a volcanic region, a significant number of people will get hurt. The volcanic region is a place where powerful monsters reside, and even hunters avoid it.

Since we can’t know which of the five dungeons we’ll end up in, it’s natural to feel anxious.

However, my case is a bit different. I can know where I’ll end up through the system. It’s a player’s privilege.

──[New Goal]──

▶[Main] Underground Town Everd (New!)

Goal: Conquer the lowest floor of the underground shopping mall or destroy the source of magic.

◇ Reward: Distributed equally among remaining team members.

*Additional Goals

□ The number of team members who drop out should be two or less.

□ Uncover the truth behind the incident in the underground shopping mall.

□ Reach the source of magic.

──────────

Originally, this was a gate that would end once we reached the lowest floor of the underground shopping mall and defeated the boss. However, another clear condition has been added this time.

…The source of magic.

The keyword “magic” that appeared during the previous sudden event when Rian joined us has reappeared.

The fact that the magic is being emphasized to this extent suggests that this dungeon might be identical to the one I remember from the original story.

Of course, since we’re not actually attacking a real dungeon, but rather a “recorded dungeon,” there won’t be any casualties. Even if we’re attacked by traps, monsters, or boss monsters within the recorded dungeon, our physical bodies won’t be harmed.

So, there’s no safety issue.

Just like during the entrance exam, Watch will automatically teleport us back if we take a certain amount of damage.

The only exception is conflicts between students. Students are not part of the recorded content. If students fight each other, the damage will be real.

However, if that happens, the professors will immediately detect it and forcibly teleport us back.

But, if the professors had detected the magic, they would have shut down the dungeon and started an investigation by now—

“…Could it be already?”

I saw Professor Vien.

He was sitting comfortably in his chair, chatting with other professors. Since [intuition] wasn’t reacting, it seemed that Professor Vien hadn’t taken any serious action yet.

That means this incident isn’t related to Professor Vien.

Since the main quest goal is to destroy the source of magic, it’s likely that something that produces magic is stuck somewhere in the dungeon, unable to move. That place is highly likely to be the lowest floor of the underground shopping mall, where the original boss resides, or a nearby location.

However, each team has already entered the dungeon through the gate. Some of them will reach the same underground shopping mall dungeon as me. Maybe someone will reach the source of magic before I do.

That’s a problem, but there’s another issue.

The entity that produces magic.

The one indicated as the “source of magic” in the quest.

Magic doesn’t occur naturally. It spreads like an infectious disease through living organisms. That’s because magic is a substance derived from “blood.”

According to the setting, magic originated from the “Demon Tribe,” which has disappeared from this world, and only the “Demon Kin” who inherited their blood remain, active in the shadows across the continent.

Naturally, where there’s magic, there’s a Demon Kin who produces it. That’s why the Hunter’s Association dispatches high-ranking hunters to places where magic is detected.

…So, in short. To summarize.

Beyond the gate that the current freshmen have passed, there’s a high probability that a Mine is hiding somewhere in the underground shopping district.

The easiest way to detect the Mine hiding in the dungeon is to leave it to Arsen’s professors, but…

“It’s not like they’ll believe me even if I tell them now.”

Even if I say there’s a Magi in the dungeon, they won’t listen, and might even provoke the villains like Professor Biern within Arsen.

The situation is unknown, but the Mine is stationary, not moving.

If it moves and the Magi spreads around, the professors will immediately intervene. If that happens, the Mine might escape or take students as hostages.

So, the next best option is to pretend to conquer the dungeon, go down to the lowest level, and chase the Mine away, or trust our party’s firepower and annihilate it.

However, we’re not fully prepared yet, and it’s true that I feel a considerable burden when facing the Mine.

“…What are you thinking about?”

Someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around to see Aira standing there.

“Why?”

“Because… other teams have already entered… when are we going in?”

Beyond Aira’s shoulder, I could see the half-empty Geord Observatory.

The teams that were lined up earlier have now dwindled to a handful. Since the first team to prepare gets to enter, it means our party is not ready yet.

Aira wasn’t the only one thinking this; Kazuha and Edel seemed to have similar thoughts, looking like they wanted to say something but didn’t know where to start.

“…When are we going in?”

Only one person approached me, openly showing their emotions.

“Look, everyone else has gone in. Why are we the only ones left? If we wait like this, we’ll have to go in alone, and what’s the point of that?”

Rian von Hildegarde.

This guy had passed the responsibility to me. He’s the one who handed over the authority to me, took a step back, and is now watching.

He seems to think he’s the highest authority here, but in reality, there’s a 3rd-year student above him.

Edel Di Bison.

Edel tried to say something but couldn’t bring himself to open his mouth. He hesitated several times before closing it.

In the end, Rian took the initiative, as if he had found a good excuse. He looked determined to pull me out.

“Illayonheart, you’re the leader, right? Where’s the last member? Have you contacted them?”

“They’ll be here soon.”

“There are many people who say they’ll come but disappear, so why should I believe that? Is this your first group project? Ah, it is. You’re a freshman, after all.”

I didn’t show much reaction, but the others did. Aira bit her lip, and Kazuha glared at Rian.

However, this is a place where professors are watching. If we cause a scene here, our score will be deducted before we even start.

Right now, several teaching assistants are watching us, observing our reactions.

“No, I’ll wait for the person who will come, no matter what. Senior.”

“What’s your basis for that?”

“Because I know someone who values their honor the most, and if they said they’ll come, they’ll do whatever it takes to keep that promise.”

“Hah, what a ridiculous guy, claiming to be the leader.”

Rian snorted and turned away. His expression turned cold, just like when Kail said he was a troublemaker.

His attitude is far from cooperative, but what can I do? He’s a team member, and I have to take him along.

Moreover, he’s a senior from a higher grade.

If I say something wrong, I’ll be penalized for not showing respect, and if we proceed without him, our teamwork will be criticized, and our score will be deducted again.

That’s why group projects are a social evil.

“I don’t know. You figure it out.”

Rian’s face, which had given up, turned away. Airi and Kazuha’s faces also relaxed at that moment.

“…There are some weird people, huh.”

“Senbeoni, you should use honorifics, Kazuha.”

“Yes…”

I checked the instructor who was watching us from the side. Fortunately, it seemed like Kazuha’s words hadn’t reached them.

Rian said I was the leader, but if I had to be honest, I wasn’t the leader. Although I was classified as the team leader, I didn’t have the intention of leading.

If I had to categorize my position in this party, it would be closer to a ‘upporter’ than a captain. I didn’t say it out loud because it would only lead to more trouble.

Of course, I understood the concerns of the other party members.

Currently, all teams had entered the Geord’s observatory, and only our team remained. The last team had just departed, so we were truly the only ones left.

“X-team, are you not ready yet?”

“Not yet, instructor.”

“I’ll give you 5 more minutes. After 5 minutes, you’ll either enter the dungeon or declare your withdrawal.”

“Yes, we’ll enter. We won’t withdraw.”

“Then, please hurry up with your preparations.”

With the instructor’s warning, the instructors’ gaze began to fall upon us. If we waited any longer, we might be penalized for being unprepared.

Rian, who was far away, was now walking towards us. They looked like they wanted to grab someone by the collar, but since there were instructors around, they couldn’t do so. Instead, Rian let out a loud complaint.

“What kind of team members did you pick to end up like this—”

Yeah, I knew what they wanted to say.

If it were the Rebecca I knew, she would definitely be here.

Just as Rian was about to say something, I reflexively turned around. There was a long shadow stretching from the open doorway.

“You’re here.”

Tap, tap.

The sound of footsteps was neat and clear. Due to the afternoon sunlight, the face wasn’t clearly visible, but a bright green name tag on their chest was prominent.

“…I’m sorry I’m late. I’m Rebecca von Anastasha Grandeur, X-team.”

Rian’s mouth finally shut tight. They looked like they had seen a ghost.

Rebecca glanced at Rian and then walked towards me. Her speech and demeanor were polished, without any awkwardness.

As an esper from a noble family, she was thorough in this aspect as well. Even I had received a lot of nagging from Diana Esperand, to the point where my ears were tired.

If someone was a true noble, they should show it through their actions, not just their words.

Authority wasn’t something you claimed for yourself, nor was it something others gave you. It was something that naturally emanated from a person.

Today was the day I truly felt Diana Esperand’s teachings.

“I’ll do my best.”

The Rebecca standing in front of me was the living proof of that.