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Chapter 219 : Wanted by Everyone
“...”Jennings remained silent for a long while.
“...To think he'd make use of Objects in such a manner.”
Objects had always been nothing more than tools for support.
Villed was the first student to make them the center of his strategy.
“Fortunately for him, he's using the Ring of Replication.”
That was also one of the outstanding Objects.
However...
There was one thing that puzzled him.
“I placed a limit on the number of Objects a person could possess.”
Within this space, the more Objects one carried, the heavier they became.
In particular, beginning with the sixth Object, the weight increased exponentially due to the magic woven into the battlefield.
A physically strong cadet might be able to force themselves to carry six or seven.
But the price was sacrificing their mobility.
As a result, an ordinary student could realistically possess no more than five Objects.
And yet...
“He's using well over a hundred Objects.”
It was an unmistakable system error.
“Assistant Chariot, what do you believe the loophole is?”
“...”
Not a single word came out of Chariot's mouth.
Because...
'How am I supposed to know?!'
The answer Jennings hated the most was, "I don't know."
Just as Chariot desperately racked his brain, trying to force out some kind of answer—
“Your response is quite slow, Assistant Chariot.”
Hearing that cold, sunken voice, Chariot's mind went completely blank as he opened his mouth.
“...I-I don't know, sir.”
Chariot bit his lip.
There was nothing he could do if he got scolded...
Expecting Jennings to yell at him, Chariot tightly shut his eyes.
However...
“I see.”
Jennings simply answered in a calm tone before nodding once more.
“...I agree. Even I don't know. I haven't found a single flaw in the magical system.”
He had examined the magical formula system over and over through magical power.
Yet...
There wasn't a single problem.
“What sort of fellow is he? To discover a loophole that even I couldn't find.”
“Will you allow it, sir?”
“Of course, exploiting an error to gain an advantage isn't orthodox. Nor is it the tactic I intended.”
Then came his next words.
“...But it isn't cheating either.”
Chariot cautiously observed Jennings' face.
A faint smile had formed at the corners of his mouth.
“Therefore, there's no reason to prohibit it.”
A flaw within the magical formula system that no one else had discovered.
Finding it.
Using it.
From Jennings' perspective, that was a form of talent in itself.
The small castle erected for each team.
Perhaps because it was only a Mock Battle, its size wasn't particularly impressive.
Rather than a castle, it felt more like a small fortress.
'It feels about twice the size of the house I built.'
The castle gate itself contained no traps.
Instead, it possessed exceptionally high durability.
Even if every Schuler attacked it together, it would still take several minutes to break through.
'Then how long will it take me?'
I took out a Siege Drill and looked at my puppets.
Roughly thirty rabbit puppets.
Each of them was holding an identical drill.
“We're almost done, so hang in there just a little longer, everyone.”
Snap!
All the puppets saluted simultaneously.
As I pressed the tip of my drill against the castle gate, the puppets also took their positions and did the same.
“Let's go.”
I pressed the button.
Vrrrrrrrr!
Rumbleeeee!
Craaaack!
Screeeeeech!
The instant the drills began spinning, the castle gate screamed.
The grinding of metal and stone battered my ears.
Stone fragments burst upward like a fountain from where the drill bits dug in.
Thirty drill heads rotated at once, slowly devouring the castle gate.
Crack!
Craaaack!
At last, the gate's surface reached its limit.
The outer layer began peeling away.
And then...
Craaack!
Cracks spread in every direction.
Rumble!
The entire gate trembled as the interlocked structure gradually came apart.
BOOOOOOM!
The supporting framework finally gave way.
The gate collapsed inward, sending debris crashing down.
The pulverized rubble mixed with dust, swallowing my vision.
When the dust finally settled, what remained before me was a completely destroyed castle gate.
“This is ridiculous.”
A helpless laugh escaped me.
It had taken only about a minute to destroy the castle gate.
“This is just a bug.”
Muttering to myself, I stepped inside.
The thirty rabbit puppets hurried in after me.
'All that's left is the Throne.'
I'd come this far.
There was no reason not to finish it.
The Throne didn't trigger any warning alarm when attacked.
Moreover, it had lower durability than the watchtowers, making it even easier to destroy.
Perhaps because the castle itself was rather small, I spotted my target as soon as I entered.
The Throne, enveloped in a blue aura.
“Villed...!”
Beside the Throne stood five people trapped inside yellow barriers.
The Schuler I had defeated.
They shouted at me at the top of their lungs, but I ignored them and continued walking toward the Throne.
Bang!
Bang!
Two weak explosions echoed one after another behind me.
The puppets I'd left outside the castle were being destroyed.
It seemed the recently revived Blue Team Schuler had returned.
'...They got here sooner than I expected.'
No matter.
I had already prepared a backup plan.
I took a small Object out of my pocket and casually rolled it across the floor.
B-rank - High-performance Wiretap
Transmits nearby sounds through a radio.
Destroyed after 10 minutes.
After confirming the device had turned translucent, I looked back toward the castle entrance.
About ten Schuler were approaching.
Ren.
The Princess.
And...
“Villed!”
Elined.
With her violet hair flowing behind her, she took the lead and charged.
The distance closed in an instant.
Her saber flashed before my eyes.
A slight smile formed on my lips as I calmly accepted the attack.
“...”
Villed couldn't even counterattack against Elined's strike.
After being hit, he appeared to have been transported back to the Red Team's Throne.
“Now that we've dealt with Villed, we've bought ourselves some time. Let's finish everything before he revives.”
Elined quickly explained the emergency strategy to the Schuler.
Meanwhile.
Villed, wrapped inside a yellow barrier as he was carried toward the Red Team's Throne.
Held against his ear...
Was a radio.
Just moments ago, Elined and the other Schuler had been discussing their strategy over it.
But...
He hadn't intended to eavesdrop on their plans.
He hadn't paid attention to the conversation itself.
[...]
[...]
Now, nothing could be heard anymore.
'...They're gone? They must be.'
The attackers would have redeployed to the battlefield.
Only about five defenders should remain outside the castle gate.
'Then... let's begin.'
The moment Villed snapped his fingers—
...Peek!
A pair of rabbit ears poked out from the rubble inside the Blue Team's destroyed castle gate.
After confirming that no one else was nearby, the puppet quietly walked toward the Throne.
Held in its arms...
Was a Siege Drill.
Vrrrrrrrr!
The puppet drove the spinning drill straight into the Throne.
Without anyone to protect it...
The Throne helplessly began cracking apart.
Outside the castle gate, the five defenders stood guard over the breached entrance.
One of them blinked.
“Hey... Haven't you been hearing a weird noise for a while now?”
“What noise?”
“Something going 'Vrrrr'... Ah.”
Only then did all five defenders realize it.
Their faces immediately turned pale.
They hurried inside the castle.
Sure enough...
The sound had been coming from inside all along.
And of all places...
From the Throne.
“A puppet...!”
“It was still here?!”
The Throne had already been riddled with cracks under the Siege Drill's relentless assault.
It was moments away from collapse.
The Schuler hurriedly summoned their staffs into the air.
But...
They were far too late.
Rumble!
The Throne collapsed.
It's...
Over?
A meaningless defeat.
All because of a single puppet.
The defenders stared blankly at the shattered Throne.
Then...
Huge words appeared across the sky.
「Battle Over - Winning Team: Red」
「Contribution Score Results
1st - Heidel: 63 Points
2nd - Kunking: 62 Points
3rd - Kaelyn: 59 Points
4th - Sia: 55 Points」
The names of the four were listed exactly where everyone expected them to be.
And then...
「5th - Villed: 51 Points」
There it was.
The name of the Schuler everyone had considered the weakest.
The golden glow of the sunset streamed through the corridor windows, illuminating me and the others.
“Phew...”
Ren took a deep breath before the door.
“Ren. Why are you so nervous?”
“But, Remy... Our opponent is Professor Jennings...”
It was obvious he was worried the professor might vent his anger on them.
Unable to watch any longer, Elined sighed and stepped forward.
“If you're not going to open the door, move aside. I'll do it.”
“I-I'll do it...!”
Ren opened the door.
Inside, Jennings was already seated at the table, waiting.
“So you've come. Come inside.”
We stood before his table.
Looking at Ren's expression, Jennings spoke.
“Let me ask you something. Why are you afraid? Do I look as though I'm going to eat you?”
“N-No, sir.”
Hearing Ren's trembling reply, Jennings gave a faint snort.
“Do not be afraid. I am generous toward talented individuals.”
After saying that, Jennings turned his gaze toward me.
“Villed.”
The smile disappeared from his face.
“I looked down on you. You were utterly unfit for the kind of student I desired. Unworthy of being a Schuler.”
Jennings rose from his seat and took a step toward me.
“There wasn't a single thing about you that pleased me. I hated you before we had even exchanged a single conversation.”
There was no excuse in those words.
No attempt to justify himself.
Because they were simply the truth.
“But I was mistaken about all of it. And for the excessive discourtesy I showed you...”
Jennings lowered his gaze for a moment before taking a slow breath.
“I sincerely apologize.”
He bowed his head.
It wasn't a perfunctory apology.
It was completely genuine.
“...”
I honestly didn't know how to react.
'He's actually bowing his head?'
I'd never even seen Jennings apologize to a student in the game.
'I wasn't even upset.'
I'd never once been offended by Jennings.
If anything...
I was deeply grateful that he had personally excluded me from the Schuler events.
“You really don't need to apologize. I mean that sincerely.”
“Hah. You truly are magnanimous.”
Jennings' eyes widened for a brief moment.
Then...
“I acknowledge your talent.”
A faint smile appeared on his face before his eyes narrowed with interest.
“Why are you silent? Your expression hasn't changed either. You should show a little more happiness. Opportunities to receive acknowledgment from Jennings do not come easily.”
Well...
Jennings was a professor of the upper-ranked Hawkeye Department.
Young.
Capable.
Exceptionally talented.
Shrugging my shoulders, I replied,
“I don't think it's really talent. I was just lucky.”
Jennings answered immediately.
“You were certainly fortunate. But fully exploiting that fortune is also skill. Most people never even recognize such opportunities before letting them slip away.”
By now, Jennings had become unusually animated, even gesturing enthusiastically.
“You couldn't defeat your opponents with magic, so you sought another weakness instead. Then you combined tactics and strategy to exploit it, leading your team to victory. Excellent. Beautiful. That is why I have come to acknowledge you.”
Jennings slowly looked toward Ren, Kaelyn, Elined, and the Princess before smiling faintly.
“I'm envious. You all have an excellent comrade.”
His eyes carried a distant, nostalgic look.
“I wish to watch all of you grow. Do not become arrogant because you've received praise. Continue striving without end.”
Having finished speaking, Jennings lightly raised his hand.
“One week from now... I look forward to your performance in the official match.”
One week later...
The battle between the First-year Students and the Second-year Students.
The full-scale official Mock War had begun.
However...
“De... De... De...”
One side of Jennings' glasses had slipped down.
His hands trembled violently.
“DEDENCMAAAAN...!!”
Jennings' face had turned bright red with overwhelming fury.
Standing beside him, Chariot was drenched in sweat.
As Jennings' assistant...
This was the first time Chariot had ever seen him this enraged.
But...
He could completely understand why Jennings was furious.
That's right.
Dedencman...
This was all your fault.
You'd crossed the line far too much.
Just what on earth were you thinking...?
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Unable to contain his rage, Jennings repeatedly slammed his fists onto the desk.
The expensive magical hardwood desk faithfully endured every blow.
It had never broken once in all these years.
But this time...
Chariot genuinely feared it might finally shatter.
“I never should've trusted that little thug! I never should've acknowledged him!”
Jennings ground his teeth.
“How dare he...! How dare he repay my goodwill and trust with betrayal?! How could he make me suffer such humiliation?!”
Jennings swung his arm through the air as if he intended to shatter space itself.
A green magic circle spread outward.
It was a large-scale Magical Communication sent simultaneously to all thirty-six Schuler except Villed.
“Capture Dedencman. If he escapes, everything... everything will be over!”
Bang!
Jennings slammed the desk one final time.
Crack!
The desk split cleanly in two before collapsing.
“This will become the greatest disgrace in all of Yggdrasil! Capture him, no matter what...!”
Meanwhile.
Groups of cadets spotted someone and immediately pointed.
“Found him! That's the senior with the scary eyes we're supposed to catch, right?”
“He looks so scrawny. Just looking at him, he seems like the weakest one.”
“He can't even fight back. Looks like all he's good at is running.”
“The others coming from the other routes said they'd help too. Let's catch him!”
Even within the freshmen's camp—
“Stop right there, Villed! Didn't you hear Professor Jennings?! Why are you stealing things and running away?! Give them back!”
Just like that...
Villed became the target of the Schuler as well.
'...So it ended up like this after all.'
With a bitter smile, he desperately fled from them.
Belonging to neither side.
Pursued by both factions alike.
To understand how things had reached this point...
We have to go back several days.