The Villain is Too Good at Sniping

52. Trial and Reward (3)

Underground 10th floor. In front of the boss room.

The sound of something breaking and shattering came from inside the tightly closed door.

Judging by the frequency of the thudding on the floor, it was clear that a fierce battle was taking place inside.

We didn’t meet any other teams on our way down, so it was likely that Team A, who had gone ahead, was fighting the boss.

“…Then, shall we enter?”

Aira, standing at the front, carefully grasped the door handle. The other members of X Team nodded in unison, as if they had made a promise.

“…Really, are we going in?”

There was still no response. The silence felt like expectation directed at herself, making Aira tremble.

“…Really, are we opening it?”

Kazuh, who couldn’t wait any longer, stepped forward and pushed the closed door open. The sound of swords clashing echoed in the dark space.

The field beyond the door looked like a movie theater with the lights off. The source of the noise was far away, but the atmosphere was ominous.

“It’s better to finish it off quickly before Shion returns.”

With Kazuh leading the way, the other party members entered the boss room without hesitation. Airi, who had been watching, also followed with her sword drawn.

However, there was one man who was still hesitant even after everyone had entered the boss room.

‘…This isn’t what I planned.’

Lian Font Hildegarde, who had carelessly dropped his sword.

His half-ruined school uniform was stained. He had gotten dirty while fighting the Imperial Guards, and now it was too late to change or wash it.

If he got attacked in his bare skin, even a light attack would be fatal.

In the end, the only way to escape this predicament was to defeat the boss quickly.

‘Why did it turn out like this?’

Originally, the plan was to exclude the party leader, Shion, and lead X Team according to his own taste.

But with Rebecca joining the party, Lian became overshadowed. Whatever he said, the student council president’s voice was louder.

‘And to make matters worse, there’s a 3rd-year student?’

Moreover, there was another 3rd-year student. It was Edel Di Bison, a legend from Arsen’s dormitory. It was hard to understand how they had made such a selection.

The fierce sounds coming from inside the boss room now included the cries of X Team and the whipping sounds.

If things continued like this, they would really become like dogs chasing chickens. It wasn’t just about grades; it would be a huge stain on their future lives at Arsen.

It’s not just that Arsene is keeping an eye on me, but there’s also pressure coming from my hometown, ‘Hildegarde’.

‘…That’s the one thing I won’t do.’

In this situation, the only way to save face is to take one approach.

‘I’ll take down the dungeon boss myself.’

I gripped my sword tightly, and Lian’s sword spirit flared up red.

***

“You were supposed to be my successor.”

In the hidden space outside, I stood facing my ‘father’, my heart racing. If the watch were functioning properly, the professors would have detected the anomaly and pressed the recall button.

But I took a deep breath and listened calmly.

“Even if you hadn’t lost to that clumsy Kamel, it would have ended up like that anyway.”

The mention of that name made my brow twitch for a moment.

But I couldn’t show any weakness. That would definitely be exploited as a vulnerability.

“It’s a pity. I thought I’d lost you back then.”

However, my instincts were telling me otherwise.

This person doesn’t care about me at all. They only want the power and prestige of Esperand.

“But you’re back now.”

“…….”

“If you’d been a day late, the Council would have abandoned you in the forest. I don’t know if you’re aware of that, but you’ve managed to return to Esperand’s embrace just in time.”

I lowered my gaze and nodded, as if I’d been brainwashed into following Esperand’s etiquette.

“So, was life in Arsene comfortable?”

My ‘father’, the Duke of Esperand, asked, his eyes piercing deep. He wasn’t just asking about my well-being.

My intuition warned me.

If I lied to this man now, I’d be in grave danger.

“Yes, thank you for your help.”

I still kept my gaze down, but through my intuition, I sensed that the Duke of Esperand was looking somewhere far away.

This man knows I was with Rebecca.

Of course, I wouldn’t try to attack Grandeur or anything like that, but if I wanted to end things with Grandeur, I’d have to become a completely different person.

Rebecca can’t do anything to this man right now.

As a high-ranking Hunter, the Duke of Esperand is someone who could crush a novice like me in an instant. Even if he’s just a fragment, his strength remains unwavering.

The person in front of me now is a fragment, but it’s still the ruthless villain, the Duke of Esperand.

“…What a strange thing.”

However, the Duke of Esperand smiled softly, his face reflected in the puddle of water beside his shoe.

His unflappable expression sent shivers down my spine. You’d have to have an iron mask to maintain a poker face like that.

The Duke of Esperand didn’t say anything more, leaving only a brief impression. But his next words made my intuition flutter again.

“I’ve heard you filed an appeal.”

“…I just left some opinions based on my experiences and life in Arsene.”

“I judged your opinions to be valid and accepted them. However, the Council still wants to get rid of Sugarmon quickly.”

The Duke of Esperand’s gaze suddenly shifted upwards, towards the ceiling. Even I couldn’t see what was beyond, but the Duke of Esperand was definitely looking at the students beyond.

“So I’ve accepted your appeal, and at the same time, I’ve added one condition.”

As the Esperand Duke stood up, I naturally followed him. Maintaining a suitable pace, I calmly listened to his words.

“The elders still suspect your intentions, and they worry that you, who left for Arsene, have forgotten your duties as Esperand’s assassin in the midst of your school life.”

“I am Sion Elleonhart before I am Sion Esperand.”

“I know that fact. If you were my son, you wouldn’t have forgotten that fact.”

Thud-

The Esperand Duke’s footsteps stopped.

“You are Esperand before you are Elleonhart. Your body and mind, every drop of blood in your veins, must be used for the sake of the family. To satisfy the elders, you must show them that you are Esperand, not Elleonhart, here and now.”

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He stopped abruptly, digging into the ground with one hand, and pulled out something from it.

The ‘thing’ trapped in the boundary revealed its form. Its opaque body gradually regained its color.

“Therefore, I will give you a task. If you pass this test, I will accept your appeal. I won’t interfere with your life in Arsene either.”

“If necessary, I’ll provide you with support, and if you want, I’ll make an exception in the future assassination plans so you can graduate peacefully.”

“But if you can’t pass this test…”

——Keeek!

At the same time, the ‘thing’ let out a wail.

The Esperand Duke still showed no emotion, grasping its neck and tossing it to the ground like trash.

The insane Mine.

It was still struggling to escape the boundary, but it was futile within the Esperand Duke’s trap.

As if trapped in a transparent wall, the Mine was simply writhing in the same spot. The Esperand Duke, who looked down at it like a bug, turned to face me.

“You must return to being Esperand.”

In that instant, my heart tightened.

The magical power within me responded.

Esperand had given the order, and I had no choice but to obey. Moreover, since it was the Esperand Duke’s direct order, I had to do it, even if it meant sacrificing my own body.

A sense of brainwashing-like something began to gnaw at my mind. It felt like a natural thing to do.

The response of the ‘olitude’ potion, packaged as a medicine and consumed in Esperand.

It was a moment when I realized its effectiveness, which I had never experienced before.

“That Mine is the new target of the request. Kill it and prove that you are Esperand’s person.”

My lips replied as if possessed.

“Yes, Father.”

“…….”

The Esperand Duke didn’t say anything more. He dissolved into nothingness, disappearing silently.

At the same time, the boundary began to dissipate. Now, only I and the still-unstable Mine were left in this space.

But the Mine was still pounding on the transparent wall.

—Keeek!

The moment the boundary broke, its claws would tear into my skin.

I quickly pulled out the Glock from my holster, pouring all my remaining magical power into it.

The Esperand Duke said it was a task given to me. The elders might think that I, who had been living peacefully in Arsene, had become a half-baked assassin who couldn’t even take a life.

He said that if I passed this test, he wouldn’t interfere with my life, but if I failed, I would have to return to Esperand.

It wasn’t simply a matter of quitting Arsene and going back home. Rather, if he wanted to take me back to Esperand, it would be more convenient to drag me away right here and now.

……But among the Esperand Duke’s words, there was also such a statement.

My body and mind, even a single drop of blood, must be devoted to Esperanza.

Esperanza’s assassins are essentially disposable. Assassins are replenished every year. Not only blood relatives but also outsiders without Esperanza’s blood are brought in.

They are given a sword and forced to survive.

The last remaining children are taken into Esperanza’s arms. Among them, only a few manage to grow up safely.

So, even if Esperanza’s elders retire from the front lines, it’s undeniable that they are all experienced assassins. Especially the Esperanza Duke, who stands at the pinnacle of his family, is the strongest.

The Esperanza Duke said,

“This is the gate I must pass through.”

“If I fail, I’ll return to Esperanza. There’s no guarantee of a safe return.”

In other words, Esperanza is genuinely testing me.

If I pass this gate, they’ll recognize me as a qualified assassin.

……But if I fail, I’ll die here.

“…….”

Main is still struggling to break free from the binding curse. I pointed my gun at his head.

Right now, this space is a closed-off area. Esperanza Duke must have intentionally set up the dungeon to trap us here.

No matter how hard Rebecca and I try, there’s no way to escape this closed space.

Ahead of me is Main, and behind me is a dead end.

To survive, I have no choice but to kill Main.

Even if Rebecca and I can’t escape, it’s a problem for us, who are still at the student level. Main will definitely break free from this dungeon and enjoy the freedom he’s been longing for.

If I don’t kill Main here, he’ll rampage through the dungeon and slaughter all the students in sight.

That would be a loss for Esperanza, but if I can kill the children of ‘Hildegarde’ and ‘Schugmond’, it’s a successful mission.

Moreover, even if the professors intervene late, the 10-story dungeon’s scale ensures that damage will occur inevitably.

The most dangerous ones are Kyle and Airida.

Especially Kyle’s group, who are about to face the boss, will be attacked from both sides. They’ll be trapped, unable to move, and eventually defeated.

So, I’ll kill Main here. I’ll take his life for the first time. Before he breaks free from the curse, I’ll end him with a single bullet.

Click—

I pulled the trigger, aiming at the still-prone Main.

However, the bullet didn’t pierce Main’s head. The shockwave from the curse’s collapse had disrupted my aim.

The bullet that should have hit Main’s head instead struck the ground, causing a violent magical explosion that shook the area.

It was the aftermath of a one-handed shot. Even with talent and corrections, failing to control the recoil would only result in a brutal magical release.

The moment Esperanza Duke’s curse lost its power and collapsed was right then.

Main stood up. He didn’t say a word. Like Esperanza Duke, he maintained silence and raised his arm.

My impression of him was brief.

……A red-eyed madman.

This guy is not human. He’s just a beast driven by his power, devoid of reason. As I thought that, the trembling in my left arm stopped.

These non-humans, who were once human, will inevitably be my enemies if I want to survive in this world.

Whether I like it or not.

They’ll continue to appear, obstructing the protagonists’ paths, and some will even harm them.

Worse still, they’ll create even more brutal tragedies since they still possess reason. To survive in this world, I must have the courage and ability to eliminate evil without hesitation.

In that sense, Esperanza Duke’s order has had a reverse effect.

This is a gate I must overcome. And at the same time, it’s a target I must kill.

Click….

He grasped the Glock once more and stood up.

And this time, he pulled the trigger without hesitation, aiming at the monster’s heart.