Chapter 240 : Everyone's Target

Chapter 240: Everyone's Target

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the other cadets had left the room first...

I ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was the last to leave the waiting room, and had only taken a few steps.

“Please ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wait a moment, Student Villed!”

A ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍woman wearing a uniform cap over her dark crimson half-tied hair.

Assistant ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Chariot hurried after me.

“Please ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍take this.”

What she held out was an ordinary sheet of parchment...

No, it was a map.

“Why are you giving this to me?”

At my question, Chariot glanced around before leaning close to my ear and lowering her voice.

“It's supposed to be a secret, but Professor Jennings asked me to give this to you as a gift.”

“…….”

I accepted the map from Chariot and unfolded it.

As expected, it wasn't an ordinary item.

Tiny ink dots crawled across the parchment as though they were living creatures.

'...A Magic Item?'

Magic Items were special items imbued with magic.

The ring I possessed, crafted from a dragon's horn, was also one type of Magic Item.

Because the user didn't have to cast magic personally, they were rare treasures that wealthy people incapable of using magic sought after regardless of the cost.

'...Do these dots represent people?'

The black dots on the map detected the magical power of nearby individuals and displayed their positions in real time.

In other words...

It was essentially a radar.

For someone like me, who had to grasp the complicated battlefield situation at a glance, it was an extremely useful tool.

“I won't refuse it.”

I didn't know why Jennings had prepared something like this for me.

But there was no reason to decline a gift.

I casually rolled up the parchment and stuffed it into my pocket.

“Tell him I'll put it to good use.”

Leaving behind a brief farewell, I turned around.

The moment I did...

A small scream came from behind me.

“N-No! Student Villed! What exactly did you hear from what I said?! If you tell him you're thankful, he'll find out that I told you!”

Leaving behind Chariot desperately waving both hands...

I walked down the long corridor.

Only after walking for quite some time did I finally arrive at my destination.

A vast battlefield of green plains.

And standing proudly at its center...

A gigantic fortress.

'It's much larger than the castle I saw last time.'

The castle used during the practice battle had only been about twice the size of my house.

Calling something that small a castle had honestly been embarrassing.

But this one was different.

The fortress used for the official battle was roughly the height of a ten-story building.

Several Watchtowers rose from its walls.

A flag bearing a yellow star fluttered atop the gray battlements.

Its massive iron-reinforced gate stood firmly shut.

It truly possessed the imposing presence worthy of being called a medium-sized fortress.

Around it...

The second-year Schulers who had arrived ahead of me were already gathered.

Since there was still time before the match began...

Some inspected the surrounding terrain.

Some checked their weapons.

Others reviewed their final strategies with teammates.

Each eased their tension in their own way.

Just then...

My eyes met Ren's from afar, where he stood beside Kaylin and the Imperial Princess.

“…….”

The moment Ren spotted me, he smiled lightly and walked over.

“Mr. Villed, I heard there's going to be a welcoming party after the official battle for the new Finders students.”

I didn't show much of a reaction.

A welcoming party...

Now that he mentioned it, I vaguely remembered there being such an event.

“I heard the third-year seniors will be attending as well, so I think it'd be good if you came.”

“Maybe. I'll keep it in mind.”

If I flatly refused, it was obvious he'd keep pestering me until I agreed.

So I deliberately gave him a vague answer.

'There's no reason for me to go.'

If it was simply an event meant to promote friendship among the second- and third-years...

There was no reason for me to participate.

Besides...

There were dangerous villains hidden among the third-years.

There was no need to create unnecessary connections and attract attention.

'More importantly... a welcoming party is the least of my concerns right now.'

I was about to say something to Ren...

But stopped.

The words asking him to protect the Imperial Princess rose all the way to my throat.

Yet I forced them back down.

Bringing up the Imperial Princess out of nowhere would only invite unnecessary suspicion and misunderstandings.

'...Right. I'm the only one who can know about this.'

'I have to stop it myself.'

I closed my mouth once more and walked past Ren.

“Huh? Mr. Villed, weren't you about to say something to me just now?”

“Be quiet. Stop following me.”

I quickly widened the distance between us.

Fortunately...

I no longer heard Ren's footsteps behind me.

...

The farther I walked...

The louder the surrounding chatter became.

Groups of Schulers were gathered together, admiring something.

“Whoa, that's awesome!”

Unlike the practice battle, where allies and enemies had been distinguished by armbands...

This official battle was slightly different.

A golden badge with a star engraved in the center of a shield.

It seemed to have been inside the box Assistant Chariot had distributed before everyone left the waiting room.

It served as proof of being a Schuler...

And the friend-or-foe identification device for today's battlefield.

Of course...

After spending an entire year together, everyone already recognized one another's faces.

There wasn't really any need to identify allies with badges.

...They were probably meant for the audience watching from the stadium.

I also took my own box from my pocket and fastened the badge to my chest.

“Let's show those juniors just how strong their seniors are.”

“Even if they're twenty times more numerous, losing to first-years would be humiliating.”

“Still, don't let your guard down. There might be geniuses among the first-years like Kaylin or Heidel.”

The cadets gathered with those they got along with, raising each other's morale.

However...

There were only two exceptions.

Myself.

And one other person.

I looked toward the cadet standing alone with her back against the fortress wall.

The silver-haired girl with short hair who couldn't blend in with the surrounding Schulers.

Sia.

Just like during the practice battle...

I would need her help again in today's official battle.

After all...

Instantly defeating powerful monsters right after the battle began to secure their rewards was an enormous advantage.

I approached her as she absentmindedly toyed with the scarf around her neck.

“Hey. I need another favor this time.”

“...Tch. You've got some nerve. You already worked me to the bone last time.”

Sia frowned and clicked her tongue.

Though her words were blunt...

She quietly looked up at me and continued.

“So? What do you want me to do this time?”

Despite her complaints...

She had accepted my request.

Well...

I'd continued helping her travel to the island through the drum barrel inside the livestock shed warehouse.

That was probably why she was cooperating with me.

“Same as before. Leave the monsters barely alive.”

“I'll finish them off afterward.”

“Then you can go your own way.”

Sia let out a quiet sigh.

“Hmph. Is that really all?”

She avoided my gaze and fiddled with her scarf for quite a while.

Then, as though making up her mind, she cautiously spoke.

“How about... I just stay with you?”

“Hmm.”

It wasn't a bad suggestion.

With Sia by my side...

We could wipe out powerful monsters much faster.

However...

The drawbacks were equally obvious.

Her fighting style was far too flashy.

Every time Sia threw a punch...

An explosion-like blast shook the battlefield.

If that happened...

Nearby cadets would swarm toward us like a pack of wolves.

Getting dragged into unnecessary battles would become inevitable.

It was completely opposite to my own style...

Following the most efficient route while avoiding everyone's attention.

Besides...

She was one of our strongest combatants.

Keeping her entirely to myself would be wasteful in terms of overall efficiency.

It would be better for Sia to remain on the front lines, stabilizing the battlefield by holding back the overwhelming assault of the first-years.

“No. That won't be necessary.”

“…….”

When I refused...

Sia simply glared at me with an obviously dissatisfied expression.

The moment the match began.

Inside the forest.

Booooom—!

A deafening explosion rang through the woods.

Sia's strike landed perfectly.

The enormous monster before us couldn't even scream.

Its entire body trembled violently as it became completely immobilized.

'Flame.'

The moment I ignited Illaune's heart...

It transformed into the shape of a sharp sword.

Slash—!

Thanks to Sia reducing it to the brink of death...

I cleanly cut down the monster with a single strike.

As the creature crumbled into black ash...

A wooden treasure chest remained where it had fallen.

“…….”

Sia alternated her gaze between the defeated monster and me.

Then she immediately ran off somewhere.

Watching her disappear into the distance...

I opened the treasure chest before me.

D-Rank - Weak Orb of Strength

An orb imbued with an unknown power.

Simply carrying it slightly increases one's overall attributes.

'...Hmm. Not bad.'

It was a respectable first reward.

After collecting the loot...

I immediately moved on to hunt another monster.

Just like during the practice battle...

I knew every inch of this battlefield and all of its terrain.

Naturally...

I also knew the most efficient route to take.

'I'll gather resources for the early phase...'

'Then execute the plan once the right moment arrives.'

About ten minutes passed afterward.

Perhaps because I'd quickly defeated several Named Monsters and secured plenty of points and useful Objects...

Defeating ordinary monsters wasn't particularly difficult.

Moreover...

With every monster I defeated, more Objects and points accumulated.

I could gradually feel the enhancement effects taking hold.

However...

'These enhancements will make me stronger inside this battlefield...'

'But they'll be meaningless when fighting the Cleaner.'

Although this battlefield was currently maintained through Professor Ruber's protection spell and Professor Jennings' battlefield enhancement spell...

The moment the Cleaner attacked the Imperial Princess...

Every magical system would collapse.

Points and Objects only functioned because they relied upon the professors' spell system.

That made farming points seem almost meaningless.

'Still... I can use them until that system collapses.'

'It's better than doing absolutely nothing while standing beside the Imperial Princess.'

More importantly...

Several thousand pairs of eyes were watching this battlefield.

Among them...

There was also a chance Rahan or the Witch was present.

The Witch, who showed an unusually strong interest in me...

Would probably be watching me especially closely.

If I simply stood beside the Imperial Princess doing nothing...

It would only invite suspicion.

That was why...

I had to act like every other cadet and participate in the battle.

Besides...

There was always the possibility I'd need those enhancement effects before the system collapsed.

'If the Imperial Princess ends up in danger and I'm too weak to reach her in time...'

'That would be disastrous in its own way.'

Securing objectives before the first-years did was critical.

There were simply too many of them.

No matter how perfectly I optimized my route...

There was always a risk they'd steal the kill.

'...They're getting pretty close.'

Whenever I had a chance...

I checked the map Jennings had given me.

For a while now...

Four black dots had been slowly approaching my location.

'If I kill a monster here, the noise will expose me.'

'For now... I'll hide and observe.'

Who knew?

I might even gain something unexpected.

Step...

Step...

The moment I heard approaching footsteps...

I concealed myself behind a bush and quietly watched them.

...As expected.

It was a group of first-years.

Just as the map indicated...

They were moving as a party of four.

“How long are we supposed to spend farming monsters for points? Wouldn't it be better to just kill a second-year?”

“Are you insane? How are we supposed to beat second-years? They're Schulers!”

“No, there's exactly one exception.”

“...Ah, right. Except for one.”

The moment I heard them laughing...

My eyes widened.

Don't tell me...

“The only second-year senior we can actually beat is Villed.”

“Exactly. Didn't we agree that if anyone finds him, we'd send out a Magical Communication to all six hundred first-years so everyone could hunt him down?”

“If we just take down that one Villed, we'll actually have a chance of winning!”

Hearing their conversation...

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly to myself.

I had expected to become a target because everyone believed I was the weakest.

But...

'...All of the first-years are targeting me?'

Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that every single one of my opponents viewed me as nothing more than a golden goblin waiting to be hunted.