The Villain is Too Good at Sniping

42. Hellish Group Project (1)

Inside Arsene’s cafeteria.

I followed the address Aira sent me and arrived at a store with a sign that read “Etranché”. Aira, who had arrived earlier, was waiting for me with a ticket in each hand.

“Ah, Sion-nim. You’re here?”

“Is this the place?”

“Yes! It’s a restaurant I’ve wanted to visit since before I enrolled.”

“…This place?”

Aira, who was excitedly holding the tickets, briefly paused, and I tried to take a peek inside the store with my clairvoyance.

“……?”

For a moment, a strong sense of discomfort struck me, and my hand, which was about to reach out, froze.

“I’ve been waiting since last night to get the tickets. I finally got them today. Here, this is yours, Sion-nim.”

“……”

“Aren’t you going to take it?”

“You, this……”

Aira handed me the ticket, and I saw the logo of a chicken leg on it. It was then that I remembered the true identity of this restaurant. I had come here once during a bourgeoisie concept play.

It was only once, but it was a memory that had left a strong impression on me.

One ticket cost around 50-60 million won.

This was the most extravagant place in the original work, a high-end restaurant where only a select few were invited. The emperor of Arsene’s restaurant street, where only the chosen ones could enter.

That was none other than Etranché. And now, this was not a place that a rookie like Aira, who had just enrolled, and I could enter.

I looked at the ticket Aira handed me. It was similar to the tickets issued by Arsene’s restaurant, but with a golden border around the store’s logo.

“So, this is a 60 million won ticket……”

I had received a scholarship from Esperanza and had saved up money during the entrance exam, so it was okay. Even if I didn’t want to, I could probably spare more money if the family needed it.

But Aira was different. If she got used to this kind of luxury, she would quickly spend all her savings.

I hesitated for a moment, holding the ticket, and Aira added another sentence.

“It’s just for one day, right? Just one day.”

“Do you have the confidence to be satisfied with just one day?”

“Uh, maybe……”

Aira couldn’t answer.

Anyway, one day should be fine. This was a store that only accepted reservations for two people or more, and Aira had made up her mind.

And what bothered me more was Aira’s gloomy face.

“Just for one day.”

“Yes!”

In the end, I accepted the ticket, but it wasn’t the end of it.

Etranché was a high-end restaurant, and as such, it received the ultimate luxury treatment from Arsene. That’s why there was an endless line of students waiting to indulge in luxury.

Among them were students holding a bunch of tickets. It wasn’t just students; Arsene’s employees also frequently visited this place. Since it was a holiday, Etranché was experiencing an unexpected peak season.

“Sion-nim, there’s a seat over there. It might take a long time, so let’s sit down and wait for a bit.”

“……”

.

.

.

…It took around 40 minutes for Aira and me to enter the store.

The seat AIRI had reserved was by the window at the Étrangère corner. It was a spot where you could see the Ariana highway that cut across Arsen Central.

Honestly, I didn’t have high expectations, but the night view from here was quite beautiful. The student council building in the distance and the Ariana highway reflecting the night sky were particularly stunning. Every time the waterway, filled with the night sky, rippled, the starlight would sparkle.

“Wow…”

AIRI took out her watch and snapped a few photos, looking satisfied, before sipping her juice.

“So, what were you going to say?”

“It’s not a big deal, just some stuff about the upcoming dungeon conquest.”

I didn’t just come here to relax, and I thought it would be good to discuss some things, so I had AIRI meet me here. I had hinted to her earlier that we needed to talk.

However, that was my business, and AIRI seemed reluctant to hear about team-related matters.

“Uh… um…”

“Just listen for now.”

But I couldn’t avoid it. I had to hear AIRI’s opinion before we started our main activities next week.

As her superior, I could give her instructions, but when it came to close combat, AIRI was the one who had to take the lead. Originally, I was going to discuss this with Rebecca, but I had to talk to AIRI first.

“First, the confirmed team is like this.”

I sent her a temporary roster on my watch. AIRI projected it onto her watch and read it carefully.

“Yuuki… I know this person, and Shion-san, and the 3rd-year student here… Wait, how did you recruit the 3rd-year student?”

“It took some effort to bring them in.”

“Um…”

But when AIRI checked the end of the roster, her hand, which was holding the cup, froze.

“What, what, student council president—?!”

“Shh, let’s skip that part for now.”

AIRI blinked her eyes, as if she understood. She whispered in a small voice.

“Shion-san, is this okay?”

“It’s okay, I’ve already taken care of it.”

That’s why I had told AIRI beforehand. If I didn’t, it might cause unnecessary trouble.

But AIRI still looked uneasy.

“I’m not trying to gossip, but I’ve heard some bad rumors about Rebecca-nim and the student council.”

To correct AIRI’s statement, more than half of what she said was true.

The current student council president, Rebecca, had purged most of the student council members at the start of the new semester, leaving only a few loyal followers. No one knew why this massive expulsion had occurred.

If I had to guess, it might be related to Rebecca’s current situation. But even that was just my speculation, and I couldn’t be sure.

“Are you really okay with this? I’ve heard rumors that the student council is looking down on the 1st-year students who entered this year.”

“I’ll be okay. Maybe.”

“Maybe is a bit uncertain. What are you hiding?”

That was a sharper question than I expected.

“To be honest, there are fewer things that can be said to be 100% certain in reality. The best we can do is minimize the risk of failure.”

“Umm…”

“Usually, people learn by breaking and fixing things. That’s what Arsen strives for. But in my case, it’s a bit different. My personality and direction are different from what Arsen pursues.”

As I spoke, it got a bit complicated, but anyway.

“I’m trying to leave some room for flexibility in case something unexpected happens. Anyway, crashing and breaking is not my role. I’m a supporter, and my job is to back up you and the other team members from behind.”

“……”

“I said ‘aybe’ because I meant it in that sense. You don’t need to worry about this part. This is my role, and even if I explain it, you won’t understand.”

It feels like I’m getting caught up in a question-and-answer session, but let me summarize.

As a player, I can’t just recklessly charge forward like Aileen and Kyle. My role is to support the main characters from behind the scenes, just like I did in the original story.

What I said to Aileen was half true and half exaggerated.

In this world, there’s reality and unexpected events, so it’s hard to say 100% success is guaranteed. But I’m just trying to increase the success rate as much as possible.

This part is not something Aileen should worry about, but something I should be concerned about.

The only thing that can respond to variables is another variable. The sudden events in this world are like hell, but that’s why the angel sent me, an irregular, to this world.

With my unique skill [Nameless] and the [Player] trait that grows stronger as I participate in the main story…

“Whatever, just listen and pass it off. It’s not that important.”

“Even if you suddenly say something profound, um…”

Aileen, who was stroking her chin, tapped her cheek with her index finger. Her lips were puffed out, showing she didn’t understand.

“But where do you keep learning these weird phrases? You said something like that to me before. You do your own thing, right?”

“I don’t know, maybe I learned it somewhere.”

“If even Si-on doesn’t know, who would…?”

It’s not that impressive, just a few realizations I’ve had from living as a company slave.

In the end, what’s important is not others, but myself. So, am I happy? Am I satisfied?… That kind of thing. It’s related to work-life balance.

In my past life, it took me a long time to realize this, but at least Aileen and others like her didn’t suffer as much as I did. They’re the main characters who have to walk a more difficult path.

Taking care of these kids’ mental states is also part of the player’s role.

“Anyway, don’t worry too much. You just do your own thing and don’t get swayed, and you’ll be fine. It’s not a lie. At least, that’s what I did.”

“I think I’m doing my best, though.”

“Are you following someone’s lead?”

From noble mtl dot com

“…I think I’m following someone’s lead, maybe.”

A dry laugh burst out. Maybe my question-and-answer session was a bit too convincing.

Aileen, who had puffed out her cheeks like a blowfish, quickly returned to normal as the full-course meal was about to be served. The elasticity of her skin was truly fascinating.

***

The weekend passed, and a new morning dawned at Arsene.

The first-year students of Arsene gathered at the training grounds, not in their usual classrooms.

This large-scale assembly was the first of its kind since the entrance exam. Not only the students but also the professors and instructors from each class were standing at a certain distance.

Among them, our class professor, Isabella Gaston, stood on a makeshift stage.

“From today, you will begin your mock dungeon conquest.”

Before explaining, Isabella Gaston glanced at her watch. With her signal, a massive illusion magic unfolded, covering the entire area.

“What you’re seeing now is a recording of the mock dungeon conquest process participated by upperclassmen last year.”

Second-year students in their uniforms were divided into teams, conquering the dungeon. The scene was similar to what Professor Vien had shown before, but this time it was projected onto the sky.

Below the stage, Professor Vien was stroking his chin, looking quite satisfied.

“Wow… what is this?”

“It’s amazing.”

The 3-minute video playing in mid-air was a recording of the conquest. Of course, it was a different dungeon from the one we would be heading to.

“The scene you’re seeing now is not a staged performance. The dungeon you will be sent to is a real dungeon where a Gate occurred in the past, and it’s been ‘ecorded’ using an artifact. You will be participating in a large-scale, real-life training exercise that you’ve never experienced before.”

This was our first real-life training exercise, different from the theoretical classes we’ve had so far.

This mock dungeon conquest would be attended by all first-year students. It was the first large-scale, real-life training experience we would have since entering Arsene.

“You will each form a team and conquer the dungeon. The monsters you will face are real, and the watch you’re wearing will automatically detect the damage you take.”

“…However.”

“Unlike the entrance exam, this time the watch will transmit the corresponding pain to you, proportionate to the damage it detects. That’s reality, and it’s the difference between this training and the entrance exam.”

Professor Isabella Gaston’s stern warning continued. Perhaps she was trying to set the mood for the first real training session.

“If you’re severely injured or take too much damage, you’ll be sent back to the Geord Observatory, just like during the entrance exam, and you’ll be automatically disqualified. The professors here will observe you, but they won’t interfere with what happens inside the dungeon.”

Suddenly, a completely different scene was projected into the air. There were five dungeons, each with an internal map.

“This is where you’ll be going. You’ll enter one of these five dungeons. The dungeon assignment is random.”

There were volcanoes, snowy mountains, swamps, cities, and an endless underground shopping mall.

The five dungeons floated in the air, and the simplified internal maps showed how complex the structures were and what kind of monsters awaited them.

The illusion magic that had projected the image disappeared, and several 2nd-year students stood below the stage, like instructors.

“The upperclassmen standing before you will assist and guide you through the dungeon conquest. They’re all volunteers who want to help you, and they’ll be your guides to minimize your struggles in the dungeon.”

The 2nd-year students bowed their heads slightly.

Although they had volunteered, most of them were trying to make up for their lack of credits or earn money from the Arsen support fund.

The easiest way to make up for their lack of credits was to take on various requests from the Hunter’s Association, but since it wasn’t the season for requests yet, they had settled for participating in the mock dungeon conquest.

There wasn’t much difference in pay whether you participated as a team member or individually. However, if you wanted to make up for your credits, it was more advantageous to participate as a team member.

The Ventus Ismil and Milla Den Azart I had tried to recruit were cases like this.

Isabella Gaston called out the representatives of each team.

“Team A, 1st-year representative Kyle Ivanstear and 5 others. Your assigned upperclassman is Silvia Reppard.”

Silvia Reppard, with a rabbit-like smile, approached Kyle Ivanstear and extended her hand.

“Nice to meet you. I’ll be in your care, senior.”

“I’ll be in your care too!”

Next was Team B.

“Team B, 1st-year representative Serin Anet and 8 others. Your assigned upperclassman is Regina Polgarten.”

Serin Anet’s team had an unusual number of members. It seemed they had held an auction for Serin and eventually decided to merge into one team.

“Team C, 1st-year representative Gardener Meridian and 2 others.”

“Team D, 1st-year representative Gavid Benton and 3 others.”

“Team E, 1st-year representative… and 5 others.”

As Isabella continued to call out the teams, the 2nd-year students below the stage took their assigned positions. The number of students dwindled, and Isabella’s calls became faster.

“Team X, 1st-year representative Sion Illeonhart and 4 others.”

Suddenly, my name was called. There were only a handful of 2nd-year students left below the stage.

But among them, one guy was smiling slyly. A sense of unease crept over me, and my [Intuition] was triggered. Goosebumps rose on my left arm.

No way, it can’t be.

But it was.

That guy, no matter how much of a troublemaker he was, couldn’t possibly be involved in Arsen’s internal affairs.

“…Your assigned upperclassman is Rian von Hildegarde.”

[Sudden Event Occurrence!]

The strange connection between Hildegarde and Esperanza! Enemies meet on the narrow bridge. The following effects will apply.

– Rian von Hildegarde joins your team. Rian’s trait is [Bomb].

– The probability of getting caught in traps in the dungeon increases by 44%.

-The magic within the dungeon is getting stronger.

Yeah, I didn’t think it would be easy from the start. Since I didn’t have any expectations, I wasn’t that shocked.

But it seems like the explanation is a bit off. Hildegaard is not a family that’s on par with Esperanza’s original enemies, nor do they have the power, relationship, or status.

If I had to correct myself, it would be more accurate to compare them to the now-defunct Illeonheart family. Now that I bear the name Illeonheart, it’s not that meaningful, but…

“It’s like carrying a bomb.”

It’s not a metaphor, but I’ve literally become a bomb.

Maybe it’s because I obtained the player and triggered the debuff [Villain’s Dilemma] that I’ve become Riann Font Hildegaard, a [bomb].

[An unexpected event has occurred, and the following corrections will be applied.]

▶During your stay in the dungeon, you will receive a 33% bonus to all stats.

▶Your health and magic recovery speed will increase by 25% when resting in the dungeon.

▶Your magic resistance will permanently increase by 5%.

Even without these corrections, the team’s composition is overwhelmingly strong, so it wouldn’t make a huge difference. With Rebecca, one of the strongest melee dealers, on our team, we can resolve any crisis with just a few punches.

The fact that ‘agic’ is occurring within the dungeon is something we need to look into, but it would be faster to observe it directly with the [Observer’s Eye] rather than thinking about it now. Besides, I have Edel Di Bison, a genius in magic interpretation, on my team, so I don’t need to worry.

“Looks like we’re meeting again here.”

But, yeah…

“Hey, take care. You’re my junior.”

“Yes, senior. Take care.”

…Group projects are indeed a social evil.

“There are supposed to be five team members, but there are only three of us here?”

“One person is busy preparing for an outing, and the other is too busy to attend. They both said they’ll join us briefly on the day of the event.”

“Is that so? That’s a shame.”

“Yes, it is.”

For now, I’ll just respond accordingly to Riann’s formality.

“It would be great if both of them could just do their part.”

The words that suddenly came to mind made me burst out laughing.