The Villain is Too Good at Sniping

88. Annual Event (3)

“… Is that mission really necessary?”

I spoke with emphasis, using a tone that showed concern for David.

“What……?”

David was genuinely surprised by my question. The David I knew wasn’t a person who pretended to be something he wasn’t. He was a simple and honest person, like Aire, who wore his heart on his sleeve.

That’s why I instinctively knew that David wasn’t interpreting my words in a different way, but was truly unaware of the answer.

“The target has already been lost, and we have to start all over again, right?”

“What… that’s right.”

“The target has already experienced one assassination attempt, so from now on, they’ll be even more cautious, and the difficulty level will increase exponentially. That means you, David hyung, will have to risk your life even more, won’t you?”

“….”

David’s words came to a halt. I could tell he was genuinely worried about my words.

“It’s not a good situation, but we can’t give up.”

However, David shook his head. I had expected him to deny it, but it was still a bit unexpected.

“You know what it means when an Esperanza assassin fails a mission, right, Zion?”

Failing a mission often leads to death.

Considering that all surviving Esperanza assassins are skilled and flawless, it’s easy to imagine the consequences.

The best defense is offense, after all.

If we’re being targeted, we should strengthen our defenses and wait for the Esperanza assassin to come to us. It’s better to kill them off rather than being chased around.

“It’s better to die than to return in failure.”

“……”

“I can’t show my face to the elders if I fail at such a simple task. You might be able to get away with it, Zion, but it’s different for me.”

David Esperanza had already failed his target assassination. It wasn’t his fault, but rather due to the family’s summons.

All his hard work had gone to waste, and he had to start chasing the target from scratch again. The effort required for that process wasn’t something the elders cared about.

Once you fail a mission, you’re subject to the elders’ scrutiny. It’s not just pressure, but you’re actually penalized.

Those who fail don’t receive any more requests. It’s not always the case, but mostly so.

Assassins who fail to receive missions are left waiting at the mansion, and Esperanza doesn’t give them any tasks.

They’re left to wait until their will is completely crushed, and then they’re given a completely different and absurd mission. They’re told to assassinate someone beyond their capabilities or sent to a difficult terrain to survive.

If they’re kicked out, they’ll retaliate and cause trouble, so it’s better to quietly let them die.

That’s the Esperanza way of doing things.

“Anyway, since there’s no deadline and no orders to catch them immediately, let’s take it slow and easy.”

David showed his determination not to give up.

“…Is that so.”

But I couldn’t let David assassinate his target.

David’s target, Aidan, was someone who should die according to the situation, but there was no guarantee that he had to die. Just like I had saved Rebecca, I could save Aidan too.

Aidan would become an important force in the future, and if he survived, he would greatly help the main characters.

I could stop it now. I could save him.

I ignored the gaze fixed on the Glock in my holster and spoke to David again.

“Then, is there no way I can help?”

“What can you do, Zion Esperanza?”

“I’m a bodyguard, just like you said, David. My vision is also one of the best among the Esperanza people.”

As David asked, I touched my temple with my finger.

Even so, David still looked worried. It was an unprecedented situation, and it was related to his pride.

We were talking freely now, but David was 10 years older than me. We were both assassins, but David was a senior figure above me.

I could only talk to him like this because of our past friendship; if it were someone else, I would have to bow my head and apologize.

David, who had been mumbling to himself, suddenly turned to me.

“Then, can you show me your firepower?”

“What do you mean by firepower?”

“Well, if you’re a bodyguard, it’s either rapid-fire or firepower. You need to satisfy one of those, and I think you’re more suited to firepower.”

While both are relevant, if I had to choose one, I’d say firepower is better.

Relying on rapid-fire is like carrying a machine gun, and besides, as a bodyguard, my body is weak. It’s better to take down the opponent with a single shot if possible.

I grasped the Glock.

“How do I show you? Do I just shoot it into the air?”

“There’s a way to do it directly… No, that’s not it.”

David gazed at a distant mountain, then suddenly took off his upper garment, revealing his body with both hands.

“Trying it directly isn’t a bad idea.”

“…Are you serious?”

“I’m serious. So, why? Are you worried I’ll get hurt?”

It’s not about getting hurt; if I make a mistake, I could really die.

I’ve seen with my own eyes what happens when I focus solely on firepower, ignoring everything else.

“-Are you really going to let me do this?”

“-It doesn’t matter! If we keep going like this, we’ll both die!”

I remembered the time I helped Airy with her request and used full charging. The destructive power I saw back then was beyond my imagination.

Of course, Airy was by my side, so I didn’t consider the aftermath of pulling the trigger. It was literally a fatal blow and an ultimate technique.

Can I take down a Giant Troll with one shot and now hit David’s bare body?

Honestly, I’m worried, but I also have the opposite thought.

In the case of the Giant Troll, I used weakness detection, and it was already exhausted from fighting Airy.

Several factors overlapped, resulting in a one-shot takedown. The situation is vastly different now.

“I’ll only defend. Let’s try a light shot? Instead of using live ammunition, let’s use magic bullets.”

Even if David Esperanza is going to take the hit bare-handed, I’m not sure if I can take him down with the first shot.

But I can’t just ignore what David is saying.

For a moment, I hesitated. What would happen if I really killed David here?

If I consider only the possibility, without thinking about the consequences, can I really take down David with the first shot?

“…….”

In that instant, my [intuition] screamed. Everything was arrogant thinking.

David said he would only defend. Even if I concentrate all my firepower, I’m not sure if I can penetrate his defense.

If I succeed in taking him down, there’s still a problem. If I succeed in assassinating David here, the aftermath would be difficult for me to handle alone.

From noble mtl dot com

The best solution is persuasion, followed by negotiation. Physical conflict is a last resort, not a desirable choice.

It’s because of Sion Esperanza’s memories and considering the current situation.

“If you say so, then I have no choice. David hyung.”

I raised the Glock, aiming at David’s abdomen.

I didn’t use weakness detection, only applying damage overlap and firepower enhancement.

A green light flashed from the muzzle. I waited briefly for David to prepare, then pulled the trigger without hesitation.

Paang-!

“…What?!”

I only injected half of the magic. I mobilized all possible means to enhance it. However, David only stumbled back, unfazed.

Since it wasn’t a real bullet but a magic bullet, the power was somewhat reduced, but it was still a desperate situation for me.

“If this were a real bullet, it would have been quite shocking?”

“Amazing.”

It wasn’t an exaggeration, but a genuine expression of admiration.

“You’ve worked hard, I heard you were going to switch to a handgun, and I was worried a bit.”

As I watched David scratch the back of his head, I was about to respond when…

Ku-gung……

A tremor occurred from a distance, transmitting through the soles of my feet.

It didn’t seem like an earthquake. The power was too weak, and the waves transmitted through my feet were irregular. It was an unnatural tremor, artificially triggered by something.

“I guess I got a bit stimulated.”

“……”

As David lifted his head to gaze at the other side, I reflexively looked up at the sky as well. With my [Celestial Vision], I saw the dark, rocky mountain peak.

Like a volcanic eruption, smoke was rising from the peak, and something like a swarm of insects was pouring out.

At that moment, a sudden event occurred.

[Sudden Event Occurs!]

The Happy Queen, ‘Alexion’, has gone berserk due to a sudden surge in magical power! The following effects will be applied.

– All stats of the Happy Queen Alexion will increase by 25%.

– The Happy tribe will enter a state of frenzy for 60 minutes.

– The physical strength, agility, vitality, and mental strength of the Happy tribe under her command will increase by 33%.

Dozens, hundreds of Happy tribe members flew up like birds, flapping their wings.

The enormous creature, resembling their queen, was flying up into the sky. It was a being that looked like a mix of an eagle and a human, and that was the Happy Queen Alexion.

Although it was still far away, I realized that they were heading in our direction.

“Then, let’s show off our skills for real this time. Let’s see how well we can take care of things.”

“Will you acknowledge what I say if I show you properly?”

“I’ll think about it after seeing it. Can you catch that thing and fill today’s quota?”

“I’ll try my best, but…”

Honestly, I didn’t have much confidence.

Since I had only dealt with ground-dwelling monsters so far, I had no experience with aerial battles.

The only exception was the ‘Floating Necromancer’, but it had limited range and could be restrained.

The Happy tribe was a species that flew through the air like insects.

Although they had many individuals, each one’s combat power was weak.

They were a type that relied on sheer numbers. Still, I didn’t feel good about it. But I had no choice but to try.

“Then…”

David summoned a sword in each hand, holding them in a reverse grip, and aimed at the approaching creatures in the air. As an Esper Knight, he was one of the few who could use dual swords.

Click-

I quietly loaded my gun and pulled the slide back.

I glared at the Happy Queen flying towards me and pulled the trigger.