Chapter 244 : Turning Weakness into a Weapon
Chapter 244: Turning Weakness into a Weapon
Simply becoming the bait wasn't enough.
I had to make sure the first-years deeply engraved one fact into their minds.
Targeting me would lead directly to defeat.
That was why...
'...I'm going to all this trouble myself.'
Inside the dark tunnel, where only a single tiny flame flickered pitifully.
Hidden behind a massive boulder, I watched the first-years.
"Ggh...!"
They were sprawled across the ground, unable to properly support their own bodies.
'...Shark, your acting is incredible.'
Following my instructions, Shark, transformed into Kunking, subtly trembled his hand and let cold sweat run down his face, pretending to struggle desperately to maintain his magic.
Thanks to that Oscar-worthy performance, one of the first-years hurriedly requested reinforcements.
Since Kunking appeared exhausted, they judged that they could subdue him in one fell swoop as long as reinforcements arrived.
The moment Shark opened his mouth, I raised my voice and shouted.
"You little minnows. Is this all you've got?!"
...The lip-sync was perfect.
Whenever Shark, disguised as Kunking, moved his lips, I shouted in his place.
Since Shark couldn't speak, there was no helping it.
...That's right.
The one standing before them now was a fake Kunking.
The real Kunking wasn't here.
After setting up the Gravity Waves that blocked the tunnel entrance, he was already on his way to destroy the first-years' main camp.
Then what exactly was the gravity magic they were feeling throughout their bodies?
The truth was...
It wasn't an ability that manipulated gravity at all.
Keeping my hand inside my pocket, I lightly fiddled with Ramji's Card.
Rumbleeeee—!
The force they mistook for gravity was actually Ramji's gale crashing down from the tunnel ceiling.
The first-years had already thoroughly studied that Kunking manipulated "gravity."
As a result, they had mistaken the violent wind pressing down on their bodies for gravitational force.
...But this couldn't last forever.
Whenever I used a Spirit Creature's power, I consumed Cost instead of Mana.
Once my Cost was exhausted, I could no longer maintain Ramji's power.
...How much time had passed?
Eventually, all of my Cost was depleted, and the wind came to a halt.
"W-What's going on? That wasn't much after all...?"
The first-years who had been lying on the ground slowly raised their heads and staggered to their feet.
And that wasn't all.
"We're here!"
"There was something blocking the entrance, but we managed to smash our way through!"
The reinforcements they had been waiting for had finally arrived.
Filled with confidence, they simultaneously pointed their swords and wands toward Shark.
"Now that the reinforcements are here, let's finish this in one shot!"
"Attack!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The instant countless different spells rained down upon him...
I safely recalled Shark into the Farm System.
As the thick cloud of dust gradually settled...
Nothing remained where Kunking should have been standing.
"...Huh?"
"Did we actually defeat him?"
While they froze in confusion—
Bzzzt—!
Magical Communication suddenly rang out.
[What are you idiots doing over there?! Our main camp is under attack!]
"...T-The main camp? We were just defeating Senior Kunking..."
[What? What kind of idiotic nonsense are you talking about?!]
An exasperated roar followed.
[Senior Kunking is destroying our main camp right now!]
"...Huh...?"
Everyone present looked at one another with blank expressions, as though someone had just struck them across the head.
"Hold them back! If they break through one more time, they'll reach the castle walls!"
After two watchtowers collapsed helplessly, the first-years desperately rushed back to their main camp and hastily formed a defensive line.
Normally, Kunking would never have turned his back on an enemy.
Even if it meant being eliminated under concentrated fire from the first-years, he would've continued smashing every watchtower in sight.
But this time was different.
"He's running away!"
"Don't let him escape! Catch him!"
Without a shred of hesitation, Kunking turned around.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
A gigantic pair of butterfly-shaped wings made of flame erupted from his back.
Kunking charged into the forest with terrifying speed.
His overwhelming velocity was difficult even to follow with the naked eye.
The first-years couldn't even dream of catching him.
As Kunking raced toward the tunnel according to the plan, he recalled his dark blue-haired classmate.
"Dedencman..."
There was a reason why Kunking, the ultimate lone wolf, had accepted only Villed's proposal.
...Kunking trusted his instincts.
The Dedencman from the beginning of their first year had been absolute trash.
Kunking himself didn't think he was a particularly good person either...
But Dedencman had been on an entirely different level.
At the very least, Kunking never bullied the weak.
No...
More accurately, he had absolutely no interest in the weak.
Only those stronger than himself—or at least worthy opponents—could ignite his fighting spirit.
That was the driving force behind Kunking's growth.
But Villed had been different.
He groveled pitifully before opponents he couldn't defeat...
Yet ruthlessly trampled anyone who looked weaker than himself.
That was why Kunking had despised Villed.
...But at some point, that guy had changed.
The moment that uneasy feeling became certainty was during last winter's Comprehensive Examination.
"Fine. My points? If you want them, take them, you bastard."
At the time, Kunking had been unable to even move properly because of the effects of an 'unknown injection.'
Villed could have taken every single one of his points from the defenseless Kunking lying helplessly on the ground.
The old Villed would've done exactly that without hesitation.
...But Villed hadn't.
Instead, he had helped Kunking hide.
At first, Kunking thought Villed had only given up because he feared the retaliation that would come after stealing his points.
He had been completely mistaken.
'That bastard's expression... was completely carefree.'
Gone was the cowardly, terrified look he had worn when their shoulders collided at the beginning of their first year.
Instead...
There had only been clear eyes quietly carrying out what had to be done.
That gaze had carved itself deeply into Kunking's mind and had never faded.
Craaaash—!
Kunking entered the tunnel and stood before the first-years.
"I-It's Kunking!"
"What the hell is going on?!"
"He was just standing in front of us a moment ago, then they said he was at the main camp! So what's this supposed to be now?!"
"Whatever! Hurry up and take that senior down!"
Looking at the first-years surrounding him from every direction, Kunking wore a broad smile as blazing flames engulfed both of his arms.
Everything unfolded exactly according to Villed's plan.
"...I've completely reevaluated you, Dedencman."
Ever since that day, Kunking's opinion of Villed had changed by one hundred and eighty degrees.
Whether it was because of the mental shock from the Upgraded Livestock Shed punishment or something else...
His personality had changed completely.
No matter how much Kunking questioned him about why he'd become a completely different person, Villed wasn't the type to answer honestly.
...Then there was only one option.
Find out for himself.
Because he wanted to learn more about him, Kunking had willingly joined hands with Villed.
And this...
Was the result.
Craaaash—!
A massive inferno dyed the entire tunnel crimson.
"AAAAAAAGH!"
Thanks to Professor Ruber's protective spell, they shouldn't have felt any physical pain.
But Kunking's overwhelming pressure made them believe they were suffering.
The narrow, enclosed space called a tunnel...
A battlefield deliberately created by Villed.
As the Gravity Waves and explosive flames intertwined inside, both the temperature and destructive force multiplied several times beyond normal.
...Just one minute.
Within that brief span.
The 118 first-years trapped inside the tunnel...
Along with the 33 reinforcements who had joined later.
A total of 151 cadets were eliminated in an instant.
Having fallen before Kunking's overwhelming might and now waiting to respawn, the first-years desperately initiated Magical Communication with their allies.
"Even if you find Senior Villed, never chase him!"
"That bastard was taking advantage of the fact that he was the bait!"
"He couldn't win on his own, so he borrowed someone else's strength! He's a despicable schemer!"
Collective intelligence spread through the battlefield via Magical Communication.
Now, two facts had been engraved deep into every first-year's mind.
If you encountered Kunking in a confined space...
Run.
And focusing solely on Villed...
Was unquestionably the wrong answer.
Circular Colosseum Arena.
Since today was a holiday, thousands of cadets had filled the spectator stands, including second-years, third-years, and even a handful of fourth-years.
There were also quite a few professors watching, hoping to identify talented first-years worthy of becoming Schulers.
"Look at that, Rapin! Villed really pulled it off!"
"Mm."
Karin and Rapin sat side by side, watching Villed through their Personal Broadcast Screens.
Since the tunnel was so dark, they couldn't see him very clearly.
Still...
The unexpected collaboration between Villed and Kunking had been an overwhelming success.
[Kunking: 177 Points! He surges straight into first place!]
The giant Main Screen focused exclusively on Kunking, who was unleashing dazzling waves of flame.
Meanwhile, the face of Villed—the one who had designed the entire situation—didn't appear on the screen even once.
"Kunking handled all the fighting, but didn't Villed deserve a huge share of the credit for leading everyone into the tunnel? But nobody's even mentioning him. They didn't even give him a single point. It looks like they're not giving him any credit at all. That's so unfair, don't you think?"
"Mm."
Rapin quietly nodded, apparently agreeing with Karin's complaint.
Meanwhile, not far away in the stands.
Most of the audience was cheering wildly for Kunking's overwhelming display of power...
But Curio, the Princess's bodyguard, was completely absorbed in her personal screen as she absentmindedly wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth.
Her sparkling eyes were overflowing with admiration.
On the screen...
The blonde Princess, her emerald eyes glittering brilliantly, swung her staff.
Dragon-shaped flames erupted from its tip and mercilessly devoured the opposing cadets.
"Ah! Her Highness has once again completely repelled the scouting unit. How can she possibly be so valiant and beautiful...? She has truly grown into someone magnificent."
Only the Princess.
Curio's eyes never left her.
"Hmm, I see."
But beside Curio, the narrow-eyed Ruga merely responded halfheartedly in an indifferent voice.
Curio tilted her head in confusion.
"Weren't you cheering for Her Highness as well, Lord Ruga?"
"Hm? Ah, of course. I am enthusiastically cheering for Her Highness in my heart..."
"But at the moment, I'm watching someone else."
"Someone else...? Do you mean Young Master Ren?"
"Haha. That's a secret."
Ruga merely smiled meaningfully.
Then, through his half-closed eyes, he continued staring at his own small personal screen.
...Dedencman.
Once again, his role had been enormous.
Although everyone in the arena was focused on Kunking's destructive power...
Ruga saw through everything perfectly.
Ultimately, it was Villed who had laid the foundation of the entire strategy.
'Rather than proving his own strength... he used the image of being weak.'
He was a strategist who had completely transformed people's perception of his own incompetence into a weapon.
'To think he'd hand all the spotlight over to someone else.'
Villed could have claimed all the credit for himself.
But he didn't.
Rather than showing off his own achievements, he pushed his ally onto center stage while quietly slipping backstage himself.
To him, the opinions of others and shallow fame held no value whatsoever.
A noble normally sought to display their status and satisfy their vanity.
The noble cadets participating in this match were no different.
But Villed seemed to have cast aside all such arrogance and greed.
He pursued practical gains.
He favored selfless and efficient play.
'You are the first person I have ever wished so desperately not to become my enemy, Dedencman.'
For the sake of the 'grand plan'...
Ruga absolutely wanted to make that man his own.
His desire only grew stronger.
[The second-year Schuler team that had been defending the watchtowers has finally begun to move!]
The first-year camp suffered devastating losses, and the balance of the battle collapsed.
From that point onward, even the second-years, who had focused solely on defense, began launching a full-scale offensive.
And Ruga found it endlessly fascinating...
That all of this had begun because of a single variable.
Dedencman.