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

Chapter 217 – Second Competition After Being Scolded by the Instructors – Part 1

“…Training begins!”

Upon Instructor Yorgo’s signal, we all moved simultaneously.

As planned, Chace dashed out first, followed closely by Trauwrul and Harriatan in pursuit.

I followed them into the forest, quickly disappearing from sight.

Ah, I see.

“…Huh? No way, they’ve already lost me…!?”

It seems like I wasn’t discovered yesterday after all.

So today, they apparently intended to put a lookout in place first.

As soon as I entered the forest, assassins Lisse and Marion arrived—apparently they were tracking me, but had already lost sight of me.

“Figures… Can’t beat Eil in the forest.”

While observing the ground where I hadn’t walked and searching the foliage where I wasn’t, Lisse grumbled.

“Huh? Is that zero points’ guy really that good?”

“As you can see. He disappears in no time… Well, can’t be helped. Let’s set up an ambush around here as planned.”

As expected of Lisse.

Accepting mistakes and swiftly changing tactics.

We could really use this team’s situational awareness and quick decision-making.

The strategy of the assassin team seems to be something like marking anyone they can.

No matter how much we stick to the plan, they anticipate someone breaking away and cling to them relentlessly to disrupt their movements.

That seems to be the gist of it.

Or perhaps, they were targeting specific individuals, like me.

They might have slightly altered the 3-2-2 trap from yesterday and chosen certain individuals to mark in advance. Hydra seemed to be watching closely.

If it’s not too complicated, they could just subtly inform each person without everyone having to participate in the strategy discussion.

Let’s see, yesterday it was Caro-something and Marion lying in ambush near the tower.

And today it’s Lisse and Marion.

Caro-something and Marion seem to have been chosen for the third-tier ambush because they’re slower than everyone else.

So, today they’re tailing Lisse.

…Hydra might have anticipated that the two of them would lose me.

That’s why they probably stationed Lisse here with strong vigilance, knowing it would be difficult to outmaneuver him. They’re also well aware of Chace’s gift.

If we think about roles, it might have been okay to have Hydra here, but she’s probably still with the three-person team as she was yesterday.

Even with just three people, having someone who can lead makes a difference.

…Well, enough about strategy analysis. We can’t grasp the whole picture just by looking at this. We might not even be hitting the mark.

If there’s a detailed strategy, each person’s assigned role is crucial.

Just taking out one person can significantly impact the flow of the plan.

And the more detailed the plan, the greater the risk if someone is taken out.

If Hydra was trying to mark me, she must have understood those aspects well.

…On the flip side, once they lost sight of me, the game was practically over.

It seems Lisse and Marion managed to hide well.

Well, I understand, but you need to hide better or else the wildlife will spot you.

The forest began to rustle.

The wind picked up.

It seems they’re doing well over there.

… Alright, let’s stick to the plan.

“… West! North! Hurry!”

Hydra, Eorazel, Cherry, and Caron dashed through the forest, following Chace under Hydra’s command.

Chace is slower today.

Although she’s usually fast, having Trawllul with her slows her down, making her a hindrance.

It’s probably part of the plan.

By slowing down the pace, they make Chace’s companion, Trawllul, an even more alert presence than Chace herself.

Chace and Trawllul are gathering the smoke signals at a considerable speed.

Hydra anticipates their position from the smoke signals and positions herself to block their path to the tower while tracking them.

For an ad hoc team, they’re moving with remarkable coordination.

Yesterday, they slipped through, but today, they have Cherry, with the Magic Circles Gift who can set up restraining traps over a wide area on the fly.

And they also have Caron, the Alchemy Magician of the Scales, who can quickly spread highly potent paralysis toxins.

Alongside Hydra, who may not have high combat abilities but excels in other areas, and Eorazel, who boasts both high combat prowess and speed.

… Today, they’re determined to catch Chace. That’s their formation.

The monster hunting team had meticulously planned their strategy.

Of course, we don’t know the full picture.

But it’s obvious that Chace, with her unmatched speed, will be the centerpiece of the operation.

It’s inevitable that she retrieves the smoke signals ahead of everyone else.

However, the smoke signals must inevitably return to the tower. Whether she’ll take them with her remains uncertain.

Either we catch her early.

Or prevent her from getting close to the tower.

Regardless of the strategy, as long as we apprehend her, there shouldn’t be a problem–or so I thought.

But there’s Trawllul’s presence.

Hydra was greatly concerned about her being with Chace.

… In fact, I even thought it would be unreasonable for her presence to have no significance.

“.. Alright, the ninth one.”

In no time, Chace had collected nine smoke signals.

It’s natural since nobody can keep up with her.

For Chace, it’s just an easy job of picking up nine drops.

“Heh, so fast!”

Though Chace was holding back his speed, Trawllul, who was desperately sprinting to keep up, was screaming.

Or rather, considering he managed to keep up with Fast Boots with just her natural agility, it should be considered remarkable.

… As Eil pointed out yesterday, why did I only retrieve one and rush back? I can’t help but regret my reckless actions from yesterday.

But that’s beside the point now.

“Traw, I’m counting on you for the rest.”

With that, Chace held in her hand one smoke signal emitting billowing red smoke, while she handed over the eight smoke signals she had collected earlier to Trawllul.

“Call me Ulul!”

Since there wasn’t enough time to seal it tightly, a bit of smoke leaked out.

But this much should be fine.

Taking the leather pouch, Trawllul literally disappeared.

… Gift: [Shadow Cat].

It’s a skill that allows her to become transparent, including what she wears, for a short period of time.

Just transparent.

Her presence doesn’t vanish.

However, unlike Eil, Trawllul, being a girl who has lived as a hunter since childhood, is adept at cutting off her presence.

As easily as a cat targeting a mouse.

“… See you later.”

Chace said so and began to move towards the tower, but at the same time, she began to evade Hydra’s team.

As a decoy with only one smoke signal, to disrupt Hydra’s team.

Eil was told, “The decoy will be easily spotted, but in that case, you can return to the tower normally.”

It’ll probably be quickly discovered, but at that time, Chace’s job will be done.

… But by the time Chace started moving and said that, Trawllul had already slipped past Hydra’s team and was heading to the planned location.