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

Chapter 218 – Second Competition After Being Scolded by the Instructors – Part 2

After letting Trawllul go, Chace and the Hydra group crossed paths.

In an instant, Hydra flipped his body around.

“… Fall back! Return to the tower!”

The moment Hydra saw Chace, he discerned that Chace was the decoy.

… There was no logical reason for Chace to be holding the smoke signal that he had been tossing into the leather bag. It was basic common sense to carry the leather bag on his back and keep one hand free.

It was unnatural.

In other words, it was a “staged act.”

It was clearly an act to show off that he was holding the smoke signal.

“… Hey! I’m holding the smoke signal! Is that okay!?”

Of course, it was okay.

Because he had already seen through the decoy.

Furthermore, Trawllul was no longer near Chace.

But there was no need to search for him.

If Chace was the decoy, he wouldn’t be around here anymore. He wasn’t that slow.

Although it was unclear where they had crossed paths, their destination was limited.

Whether they headed towards the tower or somewhere else, they would inevitably head towards the tower.

Search while retreating at the fastest speed.

That was Hydra’s decision.

They couldn’t catch up to Chace, but there was a possibility of us catching up to Trawllul.

It would be convenient if they went straight to the tower.

The ambush had already been set up.

Even if the ambush team could delay her for just a moment, when the chasing Hydras converged, they could sandwich her.

If she didn’t head towards the tower, they could set up an ambush near the tower.

Given the nature of the training, which had been focused on “properly competing for the smoke signal,” but all the smoke signals had already been collected, the instructors probably wouldn’t object to setting up an ambush against whoever had the smoke signal.

… But still, it’s terrifying.

Everyone involved was already highly skilled, but the difference between when things were going smoothly and when they weren’t was staggering.

Yesterday, they had seized an opportunity in the blink of an eye.

And yet, the next day.

Despite having the same members, the same rules, and doing the same thing as before.

They were completely on the defensive.

Moreover, Hydra seemed to be on the defensive even in places he wasn’t aware of.

There was something moving in unseen places, something they had no idea about.

It wasn’t just a matter of oversight or lack of foresight; they felt completely outmaneuvered.

It was just a feeling.

But Hydra’s intuition was usually spot on.

Perhaps, from the very beginning, the outcome was already decided—

“Hydra! Look up!”

Lost in thought as he ran, Hydra snapped out of it at Cherry’s voice and looked up as instructed.

“……!”

Upon seeing that, his feet stopped.

Not out of surprise or hesitation, but out of necessity.

He needed to make a decision, and he needed to make it quickly.

Through the gaps in the branches, he saw a trail of red smoke racing towards the tower against the backdrop of the blue sky.

“It’s a long-range throw!”

Someone, from somewhere, had thrown a smoke signal towards the tower. Judging by the feeling, it wasn’t too far away.

But who?

… It was Harriatan.

Trawllul didn’t head towards the tower; instead, she passed the signal smoke to Harriatan, who had been hiding somewhere.

And now, Harriatan was throwing the received smoke signal towards the tower.

“Hydra. I’ll go.”

“Please.”

Hydra and Eorazel had the same idea.

There were eight long-range throws in total, excluding the one that Chace had. One had already been thrown.

The second was flying now.

Without a doubt, it was being thrown at this moment, and the location hadn’t changed.

He must be planning to throw them all in a hurry.

Eorazel was the fastest among them and had the best chance of taking the smoke signal from Harriatan and Trawllul on-site.

Hydra couldn’t go because he was in command, and Cherry and Caron weren’t adept at combat. Bringing them along might just slow them down.

Above all, stopping the long-range throws now was the priority.

Sending Eorazel, the fastest, was the quickest solution.

“When this is done, I’ll head to the tower. For the sake of you lovely folks.”

With those words, as if pretending not to hear, Hydra and the others quickly ran off, leaving Eorazel behind.

“Sorry for the wait!”

“Hey, hurry up! Pass them one by one!”

While Chace and the others were gathering the smoke signal, Harriatan stood ready at the rendezvous point—a large rock in the forest already designated as a landmark among the candidates.

As planned, Trawllul brought the gathered smoke signal.

But there was still no room for relaxation.

Harriatan had no time to waste until Hydra and the others realized Chace was a decoy.

Once they did, Hydra and the others would undoubtedly head straight back to the tower.

He had gone over the plan four times; he had memorized it thoroughly.

Also, Harriatan’s shoulder issue meant he couldn’t throw from too far away.

So, he had no choice but to select a spot slightly off the route the Hydra team would take to return.

The problem was time.

The time it took for Trawllul to join Harriatan and the time it took for Hydra and the others to return to the tower.

He had to throw everything before Hydra and the others returned, or else there would be no reason for choosing the method of “throw and carry.”

Once they returned to the tower, the thrown smoke signal would be easily picked up.

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

Trawllul said casually as she looked at the tower covered in smoke.

There’s another reason why this large rock was chosen.

Here, there’s enough space to make throwing motions, and it’s as tall as the surrounding trees, so the tower is visible.

“Hurry up and pass them!”

We’re vulnerable while holding the smoke signal.

If we don’t throw quickly, it’ll be troublesome when Hydra and the others arrive.

Above all, I promised Eil.

“Can you see it? Are you okay?”

“Leave it to me! I’m aiming—”

Harriatan swings the handed smoke signal high.

Activating an advanced version of “Accuracy Adjustment,” the “Gift: Sniper’s Bullseye Shot.”

“Barely visible top of the tower!”

The thrown smoke signal, released with all his strength, leaves a red trail as it flies towards the tower, following its slight curve.

“Just as you ordered, zero points! Okay, next! Pass it over!”

“Here you go, here you go.”

As they smoothly throw the second and third shots,

“It looks like fun. Mind if I join in?”

The voice was closer than expected.

Though they hadn’t let their guard down… it seemed they had underestimated their opponent.

Not only Harriatan but also Trawllul didn’t notice. Trawllul let out a surprised “Nyaa” at the sudden appearance of the man.

“…You’ve come, pervert.”

Turning around, there was already Eorazel standing on top of the large rock… surprisingly close.

“Ugh, he’s a tough one.”

“But don’t rely on me to stop him.”

But this was also anticipated.

It was clearly included in the plan that was confirmed four times.

If someone were to interrupt while throwing.

At that time, Trawllul would stall, and Harriatan would continue with the long-distance throws.

“Ugh… I don’t like this…”

Throwing all the smoke signals would be over in no time.

During that time, stalling was essential.

Even if there were multiple opponents, Trawllul could buy a few seconds, which was anticipated.

“Sorry. Even if you’re a cute girl, training comes first for now. You can scold me later and love me intensely. Please forgive me.”

“Haha. Talking like you can beat me—Nyahhh!?”

“Huh, hey!? You’re fast!”

Trawllul was taken down in an instant.

Or rather, she was thrown off the large rock.

She didn’t even have time to hold on until Harriatan got the next smoke signal.

“…Damn. You’re as strong as ever.”

Eorazel and Harriatan are from the same hometown.

They grew up in the same facility, so they know each other well.

Eorazel, even among peers, could compete evenly with Lisse, who was exceptionally strong and talented, and sometimes even win against him.

“He’s always had a strong penchant for mischief, but his skills are quite something. His personality isn’t bad either. He’s just a pretty serious pervert.”

“I don’t have a hobby of being kind to boys, but I don’t want any rough treatment either. I want you to hand over the smoke signal. If you do that, I might allow you a kiss on the hand?”

“You have no boundaries. Seriously, ‘a kiss on the hand’?”

He’s quite a frightening man in many ways.

He’s genuinely scary, including the parts where you don’t know how serious he is. Even Harriatan, who knows him well, finds him quite intimidating. He’s the real deal. Truly, the real deal.

— Four smoke signals have been thrown.

— Handing them over means accepting defeat.

— What to do? In practical terms, Harriatan can’t beat Eorazel, and escaping would be difficult.

What should we do?

What’s the right move here?