Chapter 243 : A Double Strike
Chapter 243: A Double Strike
Jennings was surveying the overall state of the battlefield with his unique skill, Insight.
Since the official match was still in its early stages, the first-years and second-years were locked in a tense standoff, each sending out scouting parties.
"Dedencman is on the move."
The assistant, Chariot, who wore his Uniform Cap low over his face, had been keeping a close eye on Villed in accordance with Jennings' orders.
While hunting monsters in the forest, Villed sensed the enemy's presence and concealed himself in the bushes.
Then, as though making up his mind, he secretly slipped out of the forest.
"It looks like he realized, after checking the map, that a lot of cadets are targeting him. Judging by his route, he's retreating to the main camp... no, making a strategic withdrawal."
Chariot had thought he was simply going to hole up inside the main camp and hide.
Instead, Villed walked straight over to Kunking and said something to him.
Whatever he had said, Kunking was now following Villed.
It was astonishing.
Among the top three second-years, Heidel and Kaylin at least displayed a minimum level of teamwork.
Though quiet, Heidel steadily contributed to the team.
Kaylin, despite her unruly personality, consistently communicated with her classmates.
But Kunking was different.
He was the only cadet who had shown absolutely no teamwork during the last Mock Battle.
A lone wolf that no one could tame.
He possessed overwhelming combat power, refused to cooperate with allies, and mercilessly tore apart his enemies.
That was the Kunking Jennings knew.
Wasn't he someone who had always acted entirely on his own without taking orders from anyone?
...Yet that very beast was obediently following Villed?
And it didn't stop there.
Kunking had even stopped walking and was listening to what Villed had to say.
The fact that someone could actually communicate with that beast was astounding.
"To think Dedencman would make a proposal to Kunking."
Since they were watching through a screen created by Magical Energy, they couldn't hear the conversation itself.
There was no way of knowing what proposal Villed had made.
But judging from their gestures and the gradual change in the atmosphere, it wasn't difficult to infer the nature of their discussion.
He was proposing some kind of cooperation.
Some kind of strategy.
At last, Kunking extended his hand first.
The two shook hands.
A grotesquely satisfied smile appeared on Kunking's face, which was usually locked in a permanent scowl.
Jennings stroked his chin as he narrowed his eyes.
"Remarkable. Judging from their reactions, it seems Dedencman's negotiation succeeded."
"Ah, should I tell both of 'em not to leave the main camp, sir? Want me to send a Magical Communication?"
"...There's no need."
Chariot flinched at his answer.
Ordinarily, Jennings would've worn a ferocious expression, looking as though he wanted to snap the necks of cadets who acted however they pleased.
But today was different.
Instead, the corners of his mouth curled upward as though he had discovered something fascinating to watch.
"If it's Dedencman, he's worth trusting."
Chariot's jaw dropped open before he hastily covered his mouth with both hands.
...No way.
Just how much did he trust Dedencman?
A chill ran down Chariot's spine at Jennings' reaction.
He had already found it strange when Jennings handed the map exclusively to Villed...
But it was impossible to believe this was the attitude of a professor famous for being strict and merciless toward a mere cadet.
...Before long, Villed had willingly taken on the role of bait.
He seemed intent on turning the movements of the first-years pursuing him against them.
"I truly look forward to seeing what kind of result he produces this time."
Jennings simply watched Villed's retreating figure through the screen.
"I'll take one last question."
Professor Feria spoke, blinking her heavily shadowed eyes as her green hair swayed gently.
"Who should we be most careful of during this official match?"
"...Three people stand out above the rest. The top-ranked Heidel, the second-ranked Kaylin, and finally, Kunking."
As Feria waved her wand, images of the three appeared in midair.
"Then which of them is the most dangerous?"
"It's impossible to rank them. Each possesses strengths unique to themselves."
Heidel specialized in Light and Ice.
Kaylin specialized in Fire and Earth.
And...
"Kunking specializes in Darkness and Fire. He mainly uses hand-to-hand combat combined with Darkness Gravity Waves and explosive magic."
Hand-to-hand combat.
In other words, he fought with his fists.
His was by far the most violent fighting style among the three, making no small number of cadets shudder.
"To be perfectly honest, even if you all attacked together, defeating any one of those three would be extremely difficult."
At that moment, one cadet cautiously raised a hand.
"Professor, even so... wouldn't we win if all one hundred of us attacked together?"
"I can't guarantee that."
"T-Then... what about two hundred?"
Some cadets laughed as though the question were ridiculous.
But Feria sank into serious thought for a moment.
"I can't say for certain."
"If there were around two hundred..."
She slowly nodded.
"It wouldn't be impossible. If fortune favored you... you might actually have a chance."
And now.
Rumbleeeee—!!
Whoooosh—!
An 'unknown force' was crushing the first-year cadets.
Everyone who had paid close attention to Professor Feria's warning before the official match immediately recognized it.
Gravity Waves.
"Ghh...!"
"I-Is this really that ability?!"
"I can't stand up at all!"
It felt as though the invisible hand of a giant was pressing down on their entire bodies.
Pinned to the ground, the cadets couldn't even twitch a finger.
The pressure was so immense that clouds of dust on the ground swirled violently, as though caught in a fierce gale.
"We've been tricked!"
Someone shouted in fury.
"Senior Villed was the bait! He lured us right to where Senior Kunking was!"
"I knew this felt like a trap...!"
But by the time they realized it...
It was already too late.
Over a hundred cadets were trapped inside the tunnel, crushed beneath the force of gravity.
Even so, one cadet somehow forced his head up and glared at Kunking.
"Haa... haa...."
Kunking's breathing had become slightly heavier than before.
Cold sweat rolled down his forehead, and his shoulders rose and fell ever so slightly.
No matter how monstrous he was, maintaining a gravity spell powerful enough to suppress over a hundred people at once clearly placed a tremendous burden on him.
Noticing this, one cadet clenched his teeth and secretly attempted a Magical Communication.
"S-Send reinforcements. The coordinates are here...!"
His voice was so quiet that no one else could hear it.
He reported that over a hundred cadets were trapped inside the tunnel.
That they had encountered Kunking, the third-ranked second-year.
And that Kunking appeared exhausted, meaning it would only be a matter of time before his Magical Energy ran dry.
"We can defeat Senior Kunking right now...!"
They definitely could.
At those words alone, reinforcements immediately began rushing toward the tunnel.
I would become the bait.
And gather all the enemies.
That was the core of this strategy.
"So you're saying I'll simply beat every first-year who gathers in the tunnel, Dedencman?"
I shook my head.
"Come on, Kunking. If that's all there is to it, wouldn't my promise of handing you points by the sackful fall a bit short?"
I pulled out a sheet of paper from my pocket.
This world contained special tools known as Magical Items.
The Dragon Horn Ring I possessed and the map Jennings had given me were examples of them.
Holding up the paper for Kunking to see, I said,
"My family's treasury contains a treasured relic that's been passed down through generations. I brought one of them with me."
I told Kunking that anyone who signed this paper could temporarily create a scarecrow identical to themselves.
Kunking let out a quiet sound of admiration.
"Oh? So this thing can create a fake that's identical to me?"
"Exactly."
I nodded.
'...Of course, that's a complete lie.'
The paper I handed him was nothing more than an ordinary blank sheet.
It contained no magic whatsoever.
That said...
An item like it did genuinely exist somewhere in this world.
A rare Magical Item capable of creating a scarecrow that perfectly transformed into another person's appearance.
It was an expensive item crafted only in the workshops of special magicians, making it extremely difficult to obtain.
But...
'I have another way to imitate that item perfectly.'
More specifically...
It was something only a Spirit Creature could do.
Using Shark's ability, Doppelganger, Shark could transform into an exact copy of a specific person.
"So I just have to sign here?"
"Yeah."
I handed him a pen.
Without hesitation, Kunking wrote down his name.
Then...
'Shark!'
Poof—!
A small explosion echoed as smoke billowed outward.
Within the swirling cloud, the silhouette of a person gradually emerged.
As the smoke cleared...
Standing there was a muscular man slightly shorter than Kunking himself.
With bright red sea urchin-like hair.
Kunking.
'...Well done, Shark.'
It was flawless acting.
Even Kunking's trademark arrogant demeanor had been perfectly replicated as Shark stood there with his arms crossed.
"Oh? Impressive. It's an exact copy of me."
Kunking circled Shark, examining every detail.
"As expected, Dedencman. So this is the kind of bizarre treasure an imperial high noble can get his hands on."
"Something like that."
I answered vaguely.
Suddenly, Kunking began condensing Gravity Waves into one of his hands.
Rumble—!
"Let's see how it measures up."
...Was this idiot seriously thinking about sparring right now?
Unfortunately, Shark couldn't copy his abilities.
"No. It doesn't have any combat ability. It's just a scarecrow that copies appearances."
Kunking dispersed the Gravity Waves in his hand and frowned.
"Then isn't it useless? What's the point of copying my face?"
"It's plenty useful."
"There'll be two of you."
"Dedencman, didn't you just say yourself that it can't copy my abilities?"
"Exactly."
Meeting Kunking's eyes, I continued,
"That alone is valuable enough."
I calmly explained the strategy.
"I'll act as bait first and lure the first-years into the tunnel."
A narrow tunnel.
Thinking they vastly outnumbered me, they'd confidently rush in.
"When they think they've completely surrounded me..."
I gestured toward Shark, who had transformed into Kunking.
"That's when the fake reveals itself."
"Oh? So you're just putting up a scarecrow?"
"Exactly. Just seeing your face will make the first-years wet themselves. But the important part comes afterward."
Grinning, I added,
"What do you think happens once word spreads that over a hundred people are trapped inside the tunnel... and that you're there? Do you think their side will just sit back and let it happen? They're about to hand over points worth more than a hundred people."
As I finished speaking, Kunking folded his arms and thought for a moment before answering,
"They'll send reinforcements."
"That's right."
I nodded.
"Someone will definitely call for backup. There's no way they'll quietly watch over a hundred people's worth of points get stolen."
I gestured toward Shark with my chin.
"While everyone is focused on that fake..."
"You'll attack the enemy's main camp."
"...I see."
Kunking's eyes flashed like a predator that had caught the scent of blood.
"More than a hundred of them will be tied down inside the tunnel. If their main camp gets attacked at the same time, they'll descend into complete chaos."
Their formation would collapse.
Their forces would scatter.
Their chain of command would fall apart.
"If you attack the main camp, other cadets will naturally come to stop you. But there's no need to waste time fighting every single one."
I grinned.
"Cause enough chaos, then immediately retreat. After that, come to the tunnel where I'll be."
I spoke as though tossing irresistible prey before a ravenous beast.
"From that point on, you can clean up all the first-years trapped inside as easily as eating cake."
A pincer attack.
He could freely destroy the enemy's main camp to earn a massive amount of points...
Then smash the back of the confused enemy forces as they panicked, collecting point after point.
"In other words..."
"A double strike."
There couldn't have been a strategy more perfectly suited to the tastes of a battle maniac like him.