My Glasses Will Be Able to Conquer the Whole World, I Suppose

Chapter 202 – Glasses Boy Already Feeling Glad He Came

A night had passed since arriving at the Bryne Tower.

Yesterday, I went hunting for the first time in a while and got a little carried away.

I carefully explored the forest, gathering unknown plants and fruits, stealthily observing unfamiliar birds and animals, and even gazed at the moving mountain, the Holy Wandering Bull.

I lost track of time while examining the forest, and before I knew it, it was evening.

Realizing I needed to return before it got dark, I hurriedly hunted down a couple of Oro pheasants and headed back to the tower.

“Hmm?”

I ran into a tiger beastman girl in front of the tower. I realized she was the same beastwoman I had heard during the hunting festival.

When she spotted me, she rushed over.

“Bird? Hunting? Meat?”

Though her words were disjointed, I managed to grasp what she wanted to say.

I nodded in understanding, sensing her curiosity and excitement shining in her eyes, she laughed…

“Oh, it’s still not working.”

She muttered, as if realizing something, then moved away.

“…Hmm… still not working…”

I didn’t quite grasp what she meant by “not working,” but she uttered those words with a hint of disappointment, lowering her ears before heading into the tower ahead of me.

What was that all about?

What in the world was that about?

And the reason for that became clear just now.

“… I want to know the strength of the newcomer!”

In the morning, while I was having breakfast on the first floor, other candidates began to arrive.

I may rise early, but it seems everyone else does too.

Well, to be fair, breakfast was already prepared when I woke up. It was Hydra’s turn. She really is an early riser.

Faces I didn’t see yesterday also showed up, each taking a seat at the table for a while.

For some reason, the boy with a particularly unpleasant expression, who openly declared his dislike for Lisse, approached me and suddenly raised his voice like that.

…That guy is definitely a risk.

Shouting out of nowhere like that, he’s definitely not normal… I’ll try to avoid getting involved as much as possible.

I hurriedly finished my breakfast that I was eating slowly, soaked the dishes in the bucket of water as Hydra had taught me, and tried to escape outside…

“Wait, wait, wait! Hey, hold on! Zero points! It’s you! You! Hold on! Zero points! Hold on! Hold on, I said! Hold on… Seriously, hold on! Please, hold on!!”

Why is he so noisy…

Unfortunately, I failed in my attempt to escape.

I could’ve easily ignored him, but the boy with the unpleasant look seemed so desperate that I couldn’t help but pause involuntarily.

It’s that desperation.

Even if I managed to escape now, I’d definitely be caught later.

I don’t want to get involved with dangerous guys like him… but this is getting irritating.

“Take a seat! Just sit for a moment! Return to your spot at the table! Sit down… Are you deaf?! Why won’t you sit?! Quit staring and sit already! Come on! Everyone’s waiting because of you! Hurry up and sit… please! The conversation isn’t progressing!”

As I thought about how noisy he was, I stared at him, and his authoritative attitude softened.

Well, if he’s asking politely… Perhaps it’s best to take a seat. I’d rather not leave any lingering resentment either.

Some people seem to be holding back their laughter completely, but the boy is so desperate and serious that it’s hard to laugh at him… I don’t like being the center of attention like this.

Reluctantly, I returned to the seat I had been sitting in until a moment ago, and the boy cleared his throat a few times, coughed, and then started over after adjusting his throat.

“We haven’t yet gauged the newcomer’s strength! Until we do, they won’t be acknowledged as candidates!”

…Ah, so they won’t acknowledge them, huh. I see.

I remembered the tiger beastman I met in front of the tower yesterday.

Ah, so that’s why she said it was still not working.

It’s like a rite of passage imposed on newcomers.

Given the attitude of the tiger beastman from yesterday, she probably meant something like, “We won’t socialize until this is over.”

Regardless of how each individual feels, I think many candidates have gone through this path. Whether it’s an ancient tradition or something unique to this generation, I don’t know.

……

I have no motivation whatsoever, and I think they can just do as they please, but I can understand why they want to know our strength.

I learned from Roda and Zant in Haidiga that at the Tower of Bryne, candidates hunt large monsters together. That information sparked something within me.

It’s fair to say it played a significant role in my decision to come to the Tower of Bryne.

No, perhaps it’s become one of my primary objectives now.

That’s the extent of my interest and admiration.

That’s why I understand the meaning behind the boy with the unpleasant look.

In short, it’s about whether we can hunt together with someone whose strength we don’t even know.

I cannot.

I cannot, and I have no desire to do so.

So I understand the sentiment.

Irrespective of the underlying motives, I concluded that it’s in our best interest to demonstrate “what we’re capable of” to each other.

I’m not enthusiastic about it, but I no longer want to run away, so I decided to go along with it.

By the way, it appears Cherry and Florentine wrapped this up as soon as they arrived.

“… It’s been some time since I sparred with Lisse.”

Up next is Lisse, who accompanied me.

Despite being a late arrival among the newcomers, the friends she reconnected with here are well aware of Lisse’s strength.

And among those currently wielding wooden swords against each other, one happens to be the prince.

By the way, the prince is Eorazel.

He’s still wearing his noble-like, neatly pressed clothes today.

As we step outside the tower, with all eyes of the candidates upon us, a practical sparring match to test Lisse’s abilities begins.

“… If I win…”

Eorazel utters as he prepares himself.

“… Will you strip for me? …Your pants.”

…He’s quite bold.

“… You’re still a pervert, aren’t you!”

Lisse’s blade carries a hint of hostility,  and the practical match begins.

The speed is terrifying.

They exchange blows at a speed where they seem to clash three times in a blink.

Despite undergoing the same training as Lisse, my abilities seem insignificant in comparison.

And Eorazel, who seems to easily keep up with that, is quite skilled himself.

The match appears evenly matched.

Just when I thought this might drag on…

“… I give up. I can’t go on.”

Stepping back noticeably, Eorazel lowers the tip of his wooden sword, conceding defeat.

“You’ve gotten even stronger, Lisse.”

“…You noticed? You’re still as sharp as ever.”

As I wonder what’s going on, Eorazel, holding the heads and butts of the wooden sword in both hands, effortlessly snaps them.

“… During the exchange, she concentrated her strikes on a single point of the wooden sword to deal damage. A few more exchanges and it would’ve snapped.”

A big guy who I didn’t see yesterday explained. Ah, I see, several of us nodded in agreement.

“Well done, Lisse. Your focus when wielding a sword is still intense. It feels like I’ll get burned.”

“I bet. I get pretty serious about wanting to kill you when I’m facing you. If I could shoot fire from my eyes, I’d definitely burn you to a crisp.”

……

In a way I can’t quite understand, Lisse and Eorazel seem to get along well, despite everything.

This must be the start of something new for Lisse…

No, that seems like a form of friendship that would be impossible in their circumstances.

Now, it’s my turn.

My weapon isn’t something you can compare directly with others in a sparring match.

Naturally, I lack any “aptitude” for it.

Well, maybe wearing “glasses” counts as using it.

Lisse and Eorazel didn’t utilize “aptitude” either, and although there’s no rule against it, there’s no necessity either.

“… That branch.”

I pointed towards a tree at a considerable distance, making my declaration.

Even without going into detail, it’s clear what I’m going to do.

I’ve never drawn a bow with so many people watching, but the mental and physical training I’ve accumulated over many years won’t falter at this level.

If anything, I’d be more unsettled if my prey managed to escape.

I draw the bow with a clear mind, continuously knocking and releasing arrows without pause. Each arrow flies through the air in a steady rhythm.

Upon the branch I indicated, the arrows align at evenly spaced intervals, about the width of a clenched fist apart.

Yep, that should do it.

“Wow!”

With around ten arrows neatly aligned, I lower my bow. And then comes the applause… Oh, spare me the embarrassment…

“… Impressive skill indeed.”

Ah, it’s Instructor Yorgo.

Somehow, amidst the young candidates who had become spectators, there’s the face of an older man.

Some hadn’t realized Instructor Yorgo had joined us, and their surprise was evident as the applause subsided.

…Phew… I’m not a fan of being put on display like that…

“Let me borrow it.”

Huh?

As Instructor Yorgo stepped forward, he took the bow from my hand.

Honestly, I detest lending out my belongings, but this time, I handed it over without much thought.

…Maybe it was because I felt a presence similar to my master’s, I instinctively obeyed.

“Hmm, it’s a good bow. But it still lacks some usage.”

After inspecting the bow, he extended his hand.

“Five arrows will do.”

Following his instructions, I handed him five arrows.

And then, with a movement so swift it was almost imperceptible, he released all five arrows one after another.

His aim… was the gap between the ten arrows I had embedded in the branch.

He aimed with pinpoint accuracy at the incredibly narrow space the size of a clenched fist and hit it without a hair’s breadth of difference in his rapid succession of shots.

“Woah!!”

The applause was even more enthusiastic than when I had my turn, and I couldn’t help but join in. Truly impressive. He’s like a true master.

If I can’t match that speed of rapid fire, maintaining precision would be out of reach for me as well.

But I believe I can reach that level someday.

While it’s possible to aim for the space between the ten arrows like I did, prioritizing that level of precision inevitably sacrifices rapid-fire speed.

My master’s quick draw was impressive, but the rapid fire shown by Instructor Yorgo was also incredible.

As someone who uses a bow, I painfully understand just how impressive these skills are.

It’s a realm far beyond my reach, still so distant.

After showcasing such an incredible skill, Instructor Yorgo casually returns the bow to me and said:

“… The fun and games are over. Everyone, gather in the classroom on the third floor.”

It’s hard to describe, but I already feel a deep sense of satisfaction for coming here.

Just witnessing that archery skill made it all worthwhile, and I strongly felt that.