The Villain is Too Good at Sniping

5. Preparation (2)

Early morning. The crisp morning air filled my lungs.

I jogged lightly to the training grounds.

The training grounds were as large as several school fields combined, but now I could stroll around like I was taking a walk. Running here every morning had become a daily routine.

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In the distant, dark forest, I saw birds flying away. Each falling leaf was captured by my [Clairvoyance].

I never thought I’d say this, but it was a great day for exercise.

My eyesight was too good during training, and it was painful. I saw things I didn’t want to see, and it was too clear, making my head ache.

Now, I was used to this eyesight. I never thought I’d laugh about it, but that day came.

“Phew.”

I had already run three laps.

It was a moment when I keenly felt my increased physical strength. Originally, I would have been exhausted after just one lap, but now it was easy.

This was almost like taking a stroll. I wouldn’t start to feel tired until around 20 laps.

I added more force to my strides. That was when…

Thud!

“……!”

I suddenly tripped. A rock I didn’t know where it came from was stuck in the ground.

I had already gained speed. I couldn’t stop with my strength alone.

My center of gravity was off balance, and I couldn’t help but fall.

The gravel-covered ground came into view. I didn’t have time to react. I was about to crash when someone grabbed my shoulder.

My center of gravity returned, and I barely managed to stop.

“That was close. Shion.”

It was Camil Esperanza, who was running beside me. He wiped his sweat with a towel.

“There’s a rock stuck here.”

“I don’t know where it came from, but we should remove it next time.”

Camil Esperanza signaled to a staff member in the distance.

I looked at the approaching staff member with suspicion and then turned to Camil. Suddenly, I felt curious.

“…How many laps did you do, hyung?”

“I did nine laps.”

“Wow, you’re fast. Already?”

“I’m five years older than you, so I should be doing this much. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be called hyung.”

I never thought I’d have this conversation with Camil. Originally, Camil Esperanza’s personality was quite cold and distant.

Before training, I thought his natural personality was evil. However, the Camil I saw during training was far from evil.

What kind of experience did he have in the original story to become a villain?

When I was in danger, it was Camil who reached out to help me several times. Of course, we had to work together to survive, but…

“Anyway, be careful.”

“Yeah, got it.”

The kids who used to follow Camille are now gone. I remember there were only one or two left, but this was another deviation from the original story.

…Did this change Camille Esperand’s personality in some way? If only she wouldn’t cause unnecessary trouble, that would be great, but that’s still unknown.

One thing is certain: the inner self of Esperand, who was portrayed as an extremely evil villain in the original story, is not entirely like that.

Esperand does have a dark side, and with time, she’ll likely cause an incident like in the original story.

But this place is where people live.

“What are you going to do now? Are you still thinking of leaving this place? Siyon.”

Camille handed me a towel. Instead of taking it, I wiped the sweat on my hand.

“Huh.”

Camille chuckled at my reaction.

“I’ll go.”

“If you want, I can help you out a bit.”

The sunlight streaming down on the training grounds.

Camille and I paused for a moment. It was a matter that required careful consideration. It seemed Camille had been thinking a lot about this too.

“It’s nice of you to offer, but I have to do it myself.”

In fact, this was the second time Camille had made such an offer. My answer was the same as before.

Camille’s face flickered with disappointment for a moment at my repeated refusal. But there was nothing I could do. I had my own circumstances.

“Alright then. Do whatever you want. Take care. I’ll go ahead.”

“Yeah, you too, hyung.”

Camille didn’t persuade me further. Leaving a brief farewell, the figure slowly disappeared into the distance.

“…I’ll go.”

The sunlight illuminated the Esperand mansion. However, the gloomy atmosphere of the mansion didn’t dissipate.

***

“This is a public notice from Arsen that came down recently. I think you’ve already seen it, but take another look?”

The main hall of the Esperand mansion.

3rd floor, Dian Esperand’s office.

I, along with other kids of the same age, were summoned to the same place.

“This is a great opportunity for you all.”

Mother, Dian Esperand, smiled. However, the expressions of the kids facing her were far from enthusiastic.

The recommendation letter spread out on the table was written by a professor from Arsen, who was closely collaborating with Esperand. It was something that couldn’t be obtained through ordinary means.

As Dian said, this was a great opportunity, one that wouldn’t come again. If not for this chance, it would be impossible for Esperand’s kids to go to Arsen.

“I’ve brought tea.”

“Oh, put it over there.”

Tea and snacks were prepared as if they had been waiting. As expected, there were exclusive tea and snacks.

“You all know the general situation.”

Dian’s hand pointed to the map.

The center of the continent, near the capital. The name “Arsen” was clearly engraved there.

“…Arsen, huh.”

To me, it was a very familiar and welcoming name.

The place that serves as the backdrop for the original story is Arsene. It’s a place as familiar to me as the Esperance mansion, and it’s where I’m headed from now on.

“Our Esperance is closely collaborating with Arsene. Only a few core professors know about it, and even the president is unaware.”

The reason for the president’s ignorance is simple: it’s illegal.

If the president were to find out, they would uproot Arsene’s entire cabinet.

“We’ve been receiving information from Arsene’s core leadership in exchange for our support and requests. As a result, we’ve traditionally sent one child to Arsene.”

I never thought I’d hear the setting of the original story explained like this.

Esperance sends a child to Arsene. That’s the tradition. You could even say it’s a form of collateral.

“Hey!”

Just then, someone raised their hand.

It was Sirena Esperance, a girl with beautifully braided yellow hair.

“Can only one person go to Arsene?”

“Formally, that’s the case, but depending on the circumstances, we can send more than one child.”

“If I were to go… what would happen, Mother?”

Dian smiled softly in response to the question.

“You’ll enroll in Arsene and study there. Just complete one task, and that’s it.”

“What task, though…”

Dian’s eyes momentarily grew heavy.

“It’s not easy, but you’ve overcome Esperance’s harsh training, haven’t you? Don’t worry about it.”

However, before Sirena could notice, Dian’s expression returned to normal. Only I caught the brief change.

“You’ll go to Arsene and make contact with the Grandeur family. The current ruler of Arsene is Grand Duke Grandeur.”

“The Grandeur family?”

“Yes.”

A photo was placed on the table. It was a picture of a slender girl with red hair.

“Even if you don’t go to Arsene, remember this face. You might meet her someday.”

The room fell silent for a moment.

The table was filled with snacks, but no one touched them.

“The Grandeur family…”

“What about Sister Ciela?”

“I don’t really care. There’s nothing to gain from going.”

As the children whispered among themselves, Dian closed her eyes and savored her tea.

“You can become stronger here as well. Practical experience is better than tedious classes. Going to Arsene is a waste of time.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. You have a talent for magic, Sirena. If you went, you’d be better off going to the Magic Tower instead of Arsene.”

…I had expected as much when I entered the office, but everyone’s reaction was unfavorable.

It was unavoidable. The problem started with the fact that we had to make contact with the Grandeur family.

We may have had a close relationship with the Grandeur family in the past, but that’s all in the past now.

Currently, our relationship with them is awkward at best. We cooperate when necessary, but the atmosphere between the two families is already icy cold.

In the original story, Esperance and Grandeur eventually become completely estranged.

What’s more, the Grandeur family’s young lady is currently at Arsene. As someone who has to go, it’s like walking on thin ice.

…And one more thing.

No matter how well we disguise ourselves, we’re in a position where we have to deceive our identities.

If we assume that our true identities are revealed and we’re in danger, would Esperanza save us?

Dian Esperanza couldn’t give a clear answer. Perhaps she wanted to, but it was a position where she couldn’t.

From the perspective of the head of the Esperanza family, it’s more beneficial to abandon one child and maintain the contract. If necessary, she would definitely sacrifice without hesitation.

This behavior of weighing lives is truly villainous.

Everyone in this family has eaten the elixir of youth. If the ones above order it, those below have no choice but to obey.

“…It looks like we’re going crazy.”

“That’s what I said. There’s no reason to go.”

Hostage. Sacrificial pawn. It’s natural for such keywords to come to mind.

A considerable amount of time had passed. Dian waited until we could freely express our opinions and make our choices.

However, no one took the initiative.

It was the same in the original story. Originally, one child was sent to Arsene.

Exactly, Camille Esperanza’s loyal servant. The guy who got caught by the protagonist, boasted about his family, and self-destructed.

‘But.’

That guy is no longer here. Perhaps it’s a change that occurred after I, a new existence, was added.

During the training process, Camille, who was originally a loyal servant in the original story, encountered me more often.

To survive, we had to combine our strength.

…As a result, the abandoned guy eventually dropped out.

Looking back, it seems like things started to get complicated from that time on.

There was no child who volunteered to go first. Dian reluctantly looked around at each of us one by one. Traditions are traditions, so one person had to go to Arsene.

“Sirena, what about you?”

“I…don’t want to go.”

“I’m sorry, but I’ll refuse as well, Mother.”

“Siel, how about you?”

“Yes…I will.”

Sirena and Siel, the two sisters, refused first.

“Yohan, what about you?”

“I’m sorry, Mother. I can’t go to Arsene.”

The man with the messy hair sitting next to me, Yohan Esperanza, also rejected Dian’s proposal.

Now, I was the only one left.

“Sion, what about you?”

…If I chose to refuse here, what would happen? A rebellious thought flashed through my mind.

I had three options.

The first was to let the main story begin and live as Esperanza’s assassin.

It’s a rather optimistic choice. The situation is uncertain, and it’s unclear how the protagonists will turn out.

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The second was to leave this villainous group and become a hunter, living a carefree life. If I had possessed a different character, I would have chosen to become a hunter without hesitation.

It’s the most ideal life, assuming everything goes well. However, in this case, I would have to eliminate loneliness.

……And finally.

“What do you think about entering Arsene Academy?”

It’s about entering Arsene Academy and being with the protagonists of the original story.

Looking at it broadly, the two options above are not much different. Most students who graduated from Arsene are bound to walk the path of a Hunter.

It’s similar to the first option, where the main story is entrusted to the main characters, but to be honest, there’s still some uncertainty.

However, if we assume the worst-case scenario, I have no reason to hesitate.

Even if it’s a one-in-a-million chance, or an extremely rare probability.

If the main characters fail to clear the main story and fail to defeat the final boss…

“…this world will perish.”

If this world perishes, I’ll be sent to hell. The condition for passing the heavenly judgment is to fulfill my predetermined lifespan.

So, my top priority is to fulfill my lifespan. No, it’s not just about fulfilling it, but exceeding it and living a long life.

I’ll prepare for a comfortable old age, and live a life that I couldn’t have on earth, without worrying about money.

To do that, I need to prevent the destruction of this world first. Only then can I enjoy a peaceful daily life.

I need to make sure the main characters clear the main story smoothly and defeat the final boss.

In the end, it’s the same as the original game.

The only difference is that the original game ends with the ending, but I need to prepare for life after the ending since I have to fulfill my lifespan.

If I go to Arsene, I’ll inevitably meet the main characters of this world. And, as I’ve always done, I’ll help them and intervene in the main story.

As always, I’ll support them with all my might.

Perhaps the unique talent I was given, along with the characteristic [clairvoyant], which is optimized for exploration and detection, is meant for this.

Once I help the main characters grow, I’ll have some leeway. I can prepare for a comfortable old age then, and accumulate wealth and power.

To become a Hunter, I need to attend Arsene, at least up to the intermediate level.

It’s fortunate that, as an Esperant, I can enter Arsene without difficulty, unlike other characters.

“…and.”

There’s another reason I need to go to Arsene.

“To get away from Esperant’s influence, even if it’s just a little.”

Since I’ve taken the elixir, I’m bound to die if I’m ordered to by those above. So, it’s safer for me to distance myself from Esperant’s influence by going to Arsene.

If I could completely eliminate the effects of the elixir, that would be ideal, but for now, there’s no way to do so. So, I have no choice but to temporarily distance myself from Esperant.

Going to Arsene will be the starting point for all of this.

I looked up and said to Dian, “I’ll go. Mother.”