The Villain is Too Good at Sniping

85. Rehabilitation Training (4)

It was lunchtime, after the morning classes.

Before lunch, Sion had a private meeting with his instructor, Isabella.

“So, you’re saying I need to get permission to leave the campus?”

“…There’s an unavoidable circumstance.”

Isabella Gaston sipped her coffee with a tired expression, as usual.

I don’t know if she’s tired of this situation or what, but Kyle’s constant teasing has caused a subtle change in Isabella’s emotions, which shows on my [Celestial Eye].

Isabella’s expression now was one of discomfort. It’s not impossible, but it’s not easy either.

“You know that first-year students can’t leave the campus until the second half of the year, right?”

Sion Esperanza nodded.

“I told you, but there’s an unavoidable circumstance. Something’s come up at my hometown, and I can’t afford to miss it……”

“Your hometown… did you say?”

“Yes. There’s been a family affair this time.”

Of course, Sion couldn’t reveal everything about the situation.

Although he had mentioned it vaguely as a family matter, Sion’s real family was the assassin organization Esperanza, located far away in a remote area.

Currently, it wasn’t Esperanza, but Illeonhart Academy, where he was enrolled under a different name. Therefore, Sion had to keep his family’s true identity a secret.

There was a brief silence, and then Isabella poured herself a cup of coffee without a word. She stared blankly at the empty cup.

“If you say ‘family,’ you mean Illeonhart, right? I heard the situation isn’t good.”

Isabella’s words sounded like a test to Sion. However, he had practiced and acted out this scenario many times before, so his expression didn’t change. He gazed calmly at Isabella without blinking.

“…….”

He didn’t respond.

The bitter and sorrowful acting had already become second nature to Sion. He had performed it numerous times whenever the topic of his family came up in conversations with Arsen.

A slight muscle twitch, a subtle exhalation, and a deep, dark gaze – it was a performance that only a master actor could pull off.

No, it was a realm of embodiment.

Considering the countless times Dian Esperanza had corrected him, it was a remarkable achievement.

Sion caught the fleeting glint in Isabella’s eyes and continued speaking.

“Anyway, I’ll need to take a week off. It might be extended, but I’ll take responsibility for that part. If there’s a penalty, I’ll accept it humbly.”

“Originally, this wouldn’t be allowed. It’s a disregard for Arsen’s rules and traditions. No matter the circumstances, it would never be permitted.”

The phrase “originally, this wouldn’t be allowed” held an answer.

“But Sion Illeonhart, considering your outstanding achievements at Arsen and your contributions so far…”

Sion swallowed hard.

“This time, we’ll make an exception. However, since it’s not a regular 1st-year student’s outing, there will be conditions attached.”

“Of course, I’ll accept the penalty.”

“It’s not a penalty.”

A flash of surprise crossed Sion’s face.

He had expected a penalty for taking an unauthorized leave, but Isabella’s words were unexpected.

“You’ll be treated as a dispatched personnel from Arsen, and your one-week leave will be permitted.”

“Treated as a dispatched personnel from Arsen…?”

“This time, instead of punishing you, Sion Illeonhart, you’ll participate as a staff member in Arsen’s upcoming events. You’ve already heard about the upcoming exchange tournament with Yoahim and Dongbanghwa, right?”

According to Sion’s memory, the schedule had just been announced.

The actual exchange tournament was still a ways off, and there were many things to prepare in between.

“You’ll participate in various events organized by Arsen’s student council and lend a hand. The deadline is before the end of the year, and that’s the condition.”

“I have no choice but to accept that condition.”

Sion nodded.

In summary, Isabella’s words meant that, although it was originally not allowed, this time Arsen would treat him as an external dispatched personnel and grant him permission.

Sion would be treated as Arsen’s staff and participate in events organized by the academy. Although the details were unclear, it seemed he would be working with the student council.

If it was an upcoming event, it would likely be the Magic Engineering Expo or the Academy Exchange Tournament’s opening ceremony.

Isabella might not know, but Sion would have participated anyway. Therefore, it wasn’t a bad deal.

He would receive an exceptional permission to leave and gain the right to legally participate in Arsen’s events. It was an opportunity he had been waiting for.

“Then, what about classes, Professor?”

“Of course, you’ll have to attend classes.”

Isabella raised her index finger.

“However, some classes that include practical skills and external activities will be exempt from attendance.”

“That means we have to attend theoretical classes, doesn’t it?”

“That part is entirely up to you, Sion Illeyonheart. Whether you attend or not is your freedom.”

The practical exam is exempt from attendance. We can choose to attend or not attend theoretical classes, but in reality, the answer is already fixed.

Anyway, we’re in a situation where we have to take a week off, so it’s not like we can attend theoretical classes.

It’s just a formality, a story to match the occasion.

For 2nd and 3rd-year students, practical skills are more important, but for 1st-year students, the weight of theoretical classes cannot be ignored. So, theoretical classes were originally compulsory.

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Moreover, the mid-term exam is scheduled soon.

It’s not intentional, but the time Sion has to leave Arsen and the mid-term exam date coincide perfectly.

“No matter how great your achievements are, we can’t give you special treatment in exams.”

Well… it’s a problem we have to face.

“Can you really face it? You’ll be absent from this exam, and your mid-term exam results will be…”.

“Zero points, right?”

“Zero points.”

“It’s an unavoidable situation. We have to face it. Cheer up.”

It’s actually ridiculous to nitpick about this after unfairly getting admitted.

But the people involved in the unfair admission are a small number of individuals in Arsen’s deep layers, not Isabella Gaston. Arsen has many rotten people, but there are also people like Reina and Isabella who pursue order.

For now, we have to take advantage of the opportunity to get out of this situation.

Fortunately, Arsen has provided us with a legitimate excuse, so we won’t be caught later.

Getting zero points on the upcoming mid-term exam will be quite painful, but we can make up for it with practical skills. Anyway, we’re still in our first year, so this level of deduction is acceptable.

And most importantly, for the sake of this world…

“No.”

Sion shook his head.

Exactly, for the future of the main characters, including Kyle Ivanstier and Lara Stillhaiden.

And for a comfortable old age in this world, I have to return to my hometown.

In the end, it will be a good thing. The memories of Sion Esperanza that I’ve inherited contain information about the unknown background of this world.

An unavoidable event is about to occur. At the Esperanza family home.

“Then, thank you. I’ll go in first, Professor.”

“I hope you have a pleasant meal. Sion Illeyonheart student.”

“You too, Professor.”

Drrr- The door closed.

After finishing the meeting, Sion left, and Isabella sat in the same spot, staring at the empty cup for a while.

“The family’s important event…”

Sion Illeyonheart said that something big has happened at his hometown and that he has to go. In the process, he has decided to take full responsibility for the risks involved.

Although he didn’t say it directly to her face, Sion strongly expressed his intentions to Isabella during their meeting.

He’s willing to take the risk of getting zero points on the exam and even accept the penalty.

If Isabella had tried to stop Sion, he would have left Arsen on his own. It was that important.

“……”

Isabella’s eyes saw Sion’s figure, sneaking out of Arsen at night. If he’s going to leave Arsen anyway, it’s better to give him a legitimate opportunity.

Of course, she understands Sion’s situation.

When Isabella became the instructor of Class A, she saw the profiles of her students, including, of course, Sion’s. As an instructor, Isabella knew all her students’ profiles by heart.

“The family’s dignity.”

Sion’s family, the Illeonhart, had long since fallen. It was already an extinct family.

Currently, the only member of the Illeonhart family was Sion Illeonhart alone. The rest of the family members were either missing or deceased. The original family head had suddenly disappeared, leaving the family in ruins.

Sion was shouldering the burden of the fallen Illeonhart family alone, and all the family’s debts had become hers.

Isabella still remembered the last sentence Sion wrote in her self-introduction.

“…I will become a hero worthy of my father. I came to Arsen only for him, and I will graduate from Arsen with pride, just like my father did, and grow into a great hunter.”

Sion had come to Arsen to revive her family. Despite the difficult circumstances, she had persevered and participated in the entrance exam, achieving great results.

After that, she even helped the professors during the dormitory incident and detected the hidden mine in the dungeon, killing it.

Isabella couldn’t help but be impressed by Sion’s determination.

“…The family’s dignity.”

Isabella quietly repeated those words to herself.

She hoped that the Illeonhart family’s dignity would be restored, and she opened a package of mixed coffee.

***

That afternoon, I stopped by the café in the student union building.

It was clear that I, as an Esperanza member, couldn’t miss this event, even if I had to take a week off from Arsen.

Luckily, things went smoothly, thanks to Isabella’s help.

I still hadn’t told Airena Rebecca, but I wasn’t worried, as the professors would take care of it.

As I finished organizing my notes and stretched, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

“Sion, what are you doing here?”

“Airi, is that you……?”

Airi naturally sat down in front of me.

It wasn’t unusual for Airi to show up here, as this was a popular spot.

“Are you studying here?”

“I should. There’s a quiz soon, and I need to prepare.”

“Uh, um.”

Airi scratched her cheek, avoiding eye contact. I had a feeling, and it turned out to be true.

“Take this.”

“What’s this?”

“This has the quiz range, predicted questions, and even past modifications. I don’t need it, so just take it.”

“Uh……?”

Airi took the note with a reluctant expression.

I had experienced the quiz countless times.

No, I had actually solved it. The developers had created a real quiz as a joke and put it in the game.

Since the game was set in a school, the quiz had to be realistic, after all.

I had jotted down the parts I remembered and modified the content to avoid suspicion. Having attended classes at Arsen, I was sure it would mostly be correct.

“Ah, take this too.”

“What else is there?”

As Airi waited, I took out two more notes from my inventory.

“This is for Kyle, and this is for Lara Steilhyden. Can you deliver them for me on your way?”

“Is it okay if I pass this on to Lara?”

“Come on, you’re Pelteus, and you’re worried about your points. If you pass this on to Lara, you’ll even get special service points.”

Aira let out a surprised cry, as if she had finally realized something.

She had thought it was impossible to ask someone she had never met before, Lara Stillhaden, for help, but it seemed she had really forgotten.

“Anyway, I’ll ask you a favor since we’re going the same way. You’re heading to the dormitory anyway.”

“Can I say that Siyon gave it to me?”

“No, that won’t do… just say someone who knows a thing or two gave it to you. Pass it on to Lara in the same way.”

“Okay!”

Aira’s expression, which had been gloomy, began to brighten up.

As I recall, Aira’s points were 0. On the other hand, I had somehow managed to reach 2 points. Every time I met Aira unintentionally and helped her, my points kept increasing.

[Arsen A.C: Pelteus mission completed successfully!]

[Arsen A.C: Special service points 0.3 points acquired (Current accumulated points: 2.3 points)]

I had just gained 0.3 more points, bringing my total to 2.3 points.

Aira, who had been holding a notebook, dusted off her skirt.

“Then I’ll go first!”

“Ah, right. Before we go.”

“Yes?”

“Can you return these things on the desk to the counter? That’s something you can do, right?”

Aira’s brow furrowed.