Chapter 22
Consumed 10 points to upgrade Firearm Comprehension (Lv 2)….
Consumed 20 points to upgrade Firearm Comprehension (Lv 3)….
Consumed 40 points to upgrade Firearm Comprehension (Lv 4)….
Consumed 80 points to upgrade Firearm Comprehension (Lv 5)….
Consumed 160 points to upgrade Firearm Comprehension (Lv 6)….
Consumed 320 points to upgrade Firearm Comprehension (Lv 7)….
Firearm Comprehension (Lv 8). It was on par with the protagonist Gilbert’s Swordsmanship Comprehension. Even so, due to the vast gap in base skills and physical abilities, I’d lose every fight against him, but in terms of pure technique, we were equal.
Above all, Martin received significant enhancements limited to firearm techniques.
‘It feels like I’ve become a seasoned sniper….’
Holding a single rifle filled me with confidence that I could do anything.
‘I hope I find even the smallest clue.’
My goal was a trace. A trace to enter a hidden space through a route different from the protagonist’s.
As for the lake caretaker, I had no loyalty or reason to save them. They were just a novel character. Not a main or supporting character—whether I saved them or not, what did it matter….
“It’s not maintained at all…!”
“Oh dear, our teachers are so busy raising the kids…, oh dear.”
I blinked in disbelief. Why was that person here?
“Oh dear, we’re counting on you, Teacher Hailey!”
“I’m just a student teacher…. I’ll let you know when I’m done.”
A pink chick-like student teacher resembling spring. The orphanage staff who brought her bowed and retreated.
“Haa….”
Exhausted, Hailey began inspecting every corner of the lakeside.
“Ugh, they call it a field trip…. Why am I stuck doing volunteer work here…?”
Soon, after assessing the situation, Hailey spread both hands and began casting magic.
“Oh flowers, grasses, trees. Heed the words of Hailey of Etrande.”
A spring breeze radiated from her.
Randomly grown weeds vanished, and beautiful flowers began to bloom. Dead plants crumbled into soil, and dry leaves regained vitality.
It was a marvelous phenomenon of life, but there was no time to admire it.
As the lake’s water quality was purified, my Wild Instinct sounded an alarm.
‘It’s coming!’
Aiming and shooting would be too slow. I had to rely on Wild Instinct and my enhanced Firearm Comprehension.
And it was a chance to use Know-It-All’s new ability in combat.
Know-It-All (Lv 2)’s Focus Enhancement is activated.
The world vanished. In a void, only I, the sniper, Hailey, the escort target, and the dangerous lake existed. Nothing else registered.
One.
Two.
Three.
The gunshot rang out without restraint, the bullet piercing through the air.
Immediately after, a pitch-black amorphous mass rose from the lake, opening its maw. In front of the predator, Hailey froze stiff.
A streak of light tore through the slow-motion scene, piercing the predator from the side.
[Groooar!]
A ferocious roar, loud enough to shake the entire orphanage grounds, erupted from the monster. The sonic attack engulfed Hailey, but her belatedly deployed barrier did its job.
“Huff…!”
Hailey’s pink eyes widened like full moons.
Her ragged breathing from sheer shock was vivid.
Tentacles sprouting from the monster’s body relentlessly struck her barrier.
Bang! Another gunshot rang out, and liquid—blood or something else—splashed, staining the lakeside.
[Gweeeek…!]
This time, perhaps a critical hit, the monster staggered and collapsed onto the lakeside.
Still dazed by the lingering shock, Hailey stared blankly at the monster’s corpse.
Click, the sound of reloading echoed in her ears.
“Are you alright?”
The hunting dog, having finished its hunt, stepped forward.
“C-Cadet Martin…?”
The ejected cartridge, the new bullet chambered, the barrel still smoking. Hailey instantly recognized the hidden ally as him.
She didn’t know how to handle him.
“Th-Thank you, Cadet. Are you hurt?”
“That’s what I’d like to ask.”
“I-I’m fine, as the teacher.”
That was enough. I turned away.
Wild Instinct and Know-It-All were relentlessly signaling—both intuitively and logically—that the protagonist party was rushing here.
…Plan B was off. It was hard to stay sharp in front of that woman.
It was a bit troublesome, but I’d find a new passage. With Know-It-All and Wild Instinct, it wouldn’t be too hard….
“Wait! Hold on, Cadet Martin!”
“…What is it?”
The hunting dog turned back, and Hailey met my desolate eyes. She faltered, at a loss for words.
“I… I….”
Our first meeting was in the academy’s garden under the midday sun, picking up scattered papers like falling snow.
Back then, this boy seemed burdened with worries, but never like this. His current demeanor—hating the world, refusing to form attachments—was terrifying for an educator.
So, she decided she had to say this. Hailey thought.
“I don’t get swayed by rumors…!”
The second time was at the disciplinary committee, deliberately set up to expel the boy. The timid chick had mustered courage despite the unfairness.
The reason a mere student teacher could stand up to the Vice Principal and grade heads was the sight of the disheveled boy sitting in the defendant’s seat.
“So….”
The third time was now. The boy who once shone under the sunlight was now ashen.
Just three times. She mulled over the memories.
Hailey, aspiring to be a teacher, finally voiced the words she’d prepared.
“I believe in Cadet Martin. I know you’re not a bad student. So….”
Having been saved, she wanted to say this before even thanking him.
“I hope you don’t hate people too much.”
Her pink eyes gazed at me clearly. I didn’t need to think to know these were words she’d pondered for days, held deep in her heart.
“…That day.”
For some reason, I left a remark.
“Thank you for helping me at the disciplinary committee. My thanks are late.”
“The teacher was saved because you helped. Thank you.”
I felt a blade dulling. But this swelling emotion wasn’t unpleasant.
“Thank you. But this place is dangerous. Bigger things will happen, so leave quickly.”
My final words were out of concern, but who knew they’d be a landmine.
“I can’t do that!”
Hailey’s face was now hardened with resolve.
“If this place is dangerous, as a teacher, I can’t just overlook it!”
“…Didn’t you just say you’re a student teacher?”
“Y-You heard that? No, that’s not the point! Cadet Martin! Let’s find out what’s happening here together!”
Rejecting her wasn’t hard. I’d already rejected the protagonist party. The first time was tough, but the second was easy. It should be easy… but the words wouldn’t come out.
Since I didn’t refuse, Hailey dove into the investigation with even more vigor.
“Now, let’s uncover this monster’s identity…!”
But looking at the lakeside, the monster’s corpse was gone. Like ash left after a black fire, only ominous black liquid remained.
“Huh…?”
A foul stench stung my nose. I frowned and stepped back.
In contrast, Hailey stepped forward.
“A monster came out of the lake. Now that I know such a creature lives in the orphanage lake, I can’t ignore it.”
“Won’t the Petrak Kingdom handle it well?”
“Even so! The national orphanage is a global humanitarian organization! It’s run by Baron Keren von Vold Verbus, an honorary committee member under the Petrak Kingdom’s Welfare Department, holder of a Grade 3 Alchemy License! If I can help, I should!”
I slightly furrowed my brow. That name sounded familiar. Doctor Keren.
“Is he famous?”
“Of course! He’s one of the top authorities in the synthesis branch of alchemy!”
“…I see.”
Leaving Hailey to peer into the unseen lake depths, I decided to investigate the surroundings. You never know. Since a monster appeared, there might be a symbol.
Wild Instinct (Lv 1) suggests checking under the low wall.
Know-It-All (Lv 2) detects, magnifies, and analyzes an anomaly.
A small, grotesque symbol drawn under the low wall was familiar. It was the mark of the unidentified illegal organization that offered drugs for supplying children to Martin’s cartel—the one the protagonist party was desperately searching for.
In the original story, the symbol they found was in a narrow passage between buildings.
In other words, this was another passage not in the original.
In game terms, a hidden piece.
I wished it had alerted me sooner. Maybe because their levels were low, Wild Instinct and Know-It-All didn’t react unless I focused.
I hoped they’d get smarter with higher levels.
But since the monster came from the lake, should I enter it?
Wild Instinct (Lv 1) detects a threat from deep within the lake! Respond immediately!
“…!”
***
“We’re almost there!”
Elisha took the lead with an archer’s keen sense of direction. Right behind, Gilbert, Lina, Bord, and Mary were sprinting, breathless.
“Faster!”
From behind, Gilbert urged the party, and the sound of him picking up the slower Mary was audible.
“Speeding up!”
Even Elisha, the daughter of the Harmadun Ducal Family, unshaken by most things, felt her blood run cold at the sudden, horrific roar.
“Just around this corner…!”
Turning the corner to say they’d arrived, Elisha froze, her face ashen.
Far ahead, a pink student teacher stood by the lakeside, gazing down. The lake’s water surged, and a giant kraken emerged.
No, was it a kraken? Was it certain? Its slick skin, writhing tentacles—could it be mistaken for the sea’s nightmare, a kraken?
“No!”
“Danger!”
Gilbert and the party shouted upon noticing, but it seemed too late.
The urge to shoot an arrow to help surged, but Elisha was frozen, unable to move. Long ago, as a child who didn’t even know how to hold a bow, she watched her brother die to monsters. Beaten, slashed, stabbed, and finally beheaded.
“Ugh, ugh…!”
I have to shoot…! The nightmare slowed, blurring her vision.
The reason I trained to become strong, enrolled in Imperium Academy, followed Gilbert… was to save someone with my own hands next time…!
Not again! The memories of childhood crept up, binding her…!
Ah, too late.
The black tentacle monster opened its maw wide to swallow the pink student teacher.