Chapter 295: Participate in the Archery Examination. As Expected Dura-san Is Reliable! Fullru, You Are… Ah, Yeah…
We headed to the bow far-target examination venue.
Outside the knight tent group, in the opposite direction from the tent group of other people including lewd businesses, a small grassy field spread.
Because I was curious whether those tents that are probably doing lewd business are really lewd business my feet tried to head that way on their own so Mazorov and Iria grabbed both my hands and took me to the examination venue.
There about 100 people were standing sparsely.
Hmm. It seems they shoot a target about 200 meters ahead from the position where a wooden stick is inserted.
The target is a log. Not a round board like modern times.
"Duran, Mazorov. I’m counting on you."
"Um. Let’s splendidly pierce the target."
"..."
Participating in the archery examination are Duran and Mazorov.
Steisan and I are simply inexperienced so we can’t handle bows and arrows.
Iria is a knight skilled in martial arts in general but declined saying "There are many shooters superior to me. I don’t have the skill enough to appear in the event."
On actual battlefields those who shoot bows are not knights but soldiers called shooter archers. Therefore knights who mainly handle bows are few.
It seems they will select representatives who hit the target 200 meters ahead the most by shooting five arrows.
I practiced before at Glans but I couldn’t even hit 10 meters ahead.
Seriously difficult. I think bows and arrows are mainly for use in creating a barrage by having hundreds of people densely packed shooting all at once and not something you can snipe with. But Iria can apparently hit a stationary target even 50 meters ahead so the amount of practice matters.
Basically arrows are recovered and reused. It’s not like in manga where once you shoot that’s the end. Even on actual battlefields if they’re not broken they recover them.
The participants were all watching other people shoot and clapping or heckling "clumsy" and this too had become a little entertainment. There are also people betting on whether it hits or not.
Leaving the examination aside there is also a group making a big fuss gnawing bone-in meat in the right hand and drinking wine or beer from a cup in the left. Naturally there are also people heading toward the tents that are probably doing lewd things.
I see. Because you can enjoy even outside the arena there are many participants in the Christmas Tournament. If you were just waiting it would be a shit event except for some influential knights.
Also perhaps frightened because there are many knights Iferaski stuck tightly to my back and became quiet.
Ranjou is remaining calm so unexpectedly Iferaski seems more timid.
From the look of the arrows three hits is good. The average is around two hits or not.
There are three shooting lanes and they examine three people at the same time but three female knights wearing similar armor lined up and all three hit four each making the surroundings boil.
Now it’s Duran’s turn. He borrowed the bow and arrows from Iria. High-quality bow and arrows cut from yew wood.
Perhaps to shoot continuously he holds five arrows in his right hand.
Duran skillfully nocked one arrow and drew the string taut.
The arrow tip is pointing diagonally up. Because if you shoot horizontal to the ground it won’t reach.
Hyun!
He released the arrow.
Just as I thought hyu, hyu, hyu, hyun!
While the first one hadn’t yet reached the target he changed the angle and shot the remaining four as well.
Heckling flew from the spectators.
"Even if you do it sloppily it won’t hit!"
"Where are you aiming. Hitting the neighboring target is meaningless!"
"Are you praying to god that even one hits by shooting different places?"
No one thinks it will hit.
But I somehow know the future a few seconds later.
The target is 200 meters ahead so sound can’t be heard, but certainly five arrows simultaneously stabbed into the cross-section of the log in front of Duran.
Shiin...
The venue fell silent at the too-much divine skill.
Probably he calculated every factor such as gravity and wind force differing by altitude and planetary rotation with space observation technology. Incredible...
"S-seriously... Was that just now a skill? Did I see an illusion?"
"No, but showing an illusion to this many people..."
"Because a talisman blessed by making a pilgrimage to Saint Kalm is sewn into my clothes I shouldn’t see illusions but..."
Amid the stirring Duran rode Kaka to the target and recovered the arrows.
The returned Duran was wrapped in applause and cheers.
"Magnificent!"
"I swear to god I have never seen archery skill like yours!"
"I have never seen your mount either! What is this bizarre creature!"
"Um. Northern army victory is certain!"
"Skill rivaling, no, surpassing Purple Bow Alo and Black Shadow Maria!"
"By all means I would like to hear your name!"
"My name is Duran. A knight serving Cosmic Golden Knight Sahar Galactic."
"Duran, wonderful skill! Let me treat you to wine!"
"No, you, that won’t do. He will certainly be selected as northern army representative. We must not get him drunk."
"That’s right! How regrettable that I can only praise with words!"
"What a strange creature! Just looking at it makes my heart stir!"
"Truly magnificent!"
"Duran! Truly heaven-sent archery!"
Seriously huge praise.
Because knights polish martial arts skill they don’t spare praise for outstanding technique.
Now next is Fullru’s turn to take the archery test.
Huh. Mazorov’s figure is gone.
’Over here.’
Because she spoke with wind magic I looked that way but there is particularly no Mazorov figure.
’Here, here. On the roof.’
’Ah!’
Mazorov is on the pointed roof of the cathedral about 1 kilometer away. She was nearby until just now so when did she go there.
’Why in a place like that...’
’I’ll teach you that I’m more amazing than some unknown knight. Among Masaharu’s companions I’m the most amazing.’
Ah. Because Fullru doesn’t know Duran’s identity she’s competing.
’Look. I’ll shoot so tell the official.’
’Got it.’
I explained the circumstances to the black-armored knight.
"Um, is the next turn okay?"
"Of course. Sahar-dono. Even as an examiner I was looking forward to your archery skill."
"Ah, no, I’m bad at bows. So the one shooting the bow isn’t me but companion Mazorov, and she’s over there."
"Over there?"
I pointed above the church.
"Eh? Why in a place like that?"
"It seems she’ll shoot from there."
"What. That’s more than double the far-arrow distance isn’t it. I see. So that’s a skill to realize that. Let us see."
’He said okay.’
’Nn.’
Kira.
Something shone 1 kilometer away.
The next instant the target shattered and a small tornado formed at the impact point, fragments scattering.
Taan...
Belatedly sound could be heard from atop the spire. It’s exactly like sniping with a sniper rifle...
’Hey! The target shattered! What are you doing! You’re supposed to hit five! Also though there’s no evidence because it blew away the arrow didn’t hit!’
’I-it was coincidence. I just happened to miss!’
I bowed my head to the black knight.
"Sorry. It seems the target got a little broken. What should we do."
"Ah. I think it’s unnecessary because skill is sufficiently understood but just in case let’s prepare another target."
A man in chainmail ordered by the black knight went to set up another target.
Hiii... The preparation time is awkward.
’Don’t break it next time. Hold back! Also hit it. This is a hitting event. If destroying it is fine even if you miss the target even I can do it.’
’I-I got it. But to make the arrow reach from this distance I need to add momentum...’
’I understand the circumstances but hold back. The person preparing the target is going here and there and I’m awkward.’
’Got it. I’ll hold back.’
Kira.
Taan...
Fullru you...!
Again the firing sound was heard belatedly. The moment it exceeds the speed of sound the power is excessive.
The second shot hit but again the target was destroyed. Don’t tell me she’s doing it on purpose wanting to be punished by me?
Don’t think you’ll get your anus toyed with as punishment okay?
On the contrary I’ll tie both hands and feet, make you stick your ass out and leave you with anus fully exposed okay?
Anyway they said the third shot is unnecessary so she probably sufficiently showed her real ability.
Because Mazorov is in a distant position she won’t be surrounded by people and praised, well whatever.
After that everyone’s tests ended and splendidly Duran and Mazorov were selected as representative players.
