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

Chapter 221 – Second Competition After Being Scolded by the Instructors – Part 5

“It wasn’t as big of a deal as I thought.”

That was the impression Shuren had of Eil.

Now, having snatched the smoke signals Eil had collected and descended from the tower with, and then submitted to the instructor, Shuren reflected on his task.

Shuren had been instructed by Hydra to monitor Eil and to reclaim the smoke signals after Eil had acquired them.

How exactly that situation would come about was unclear, but he had been asked to take care of it should it happen.

As Hydra predicted, Eil had entered the forest and then lay in wait near the tower.

Shuren, who had entered the forest earlier and observed from the forest side, was able to closely monitor Eil from his hiding spot and his subsequent actions.

“Indeed, it was remarkable stealth.”

Lisse and Marion, who followed from the tower side, lost sight of him almost immediately, so smoothly he blended into the bushes.

What should be particularly noted was his patience.

Once hidden, he barely moved. Not even a twitch.

He hid his presence as if he had merged with the surrounding environment, cutting off all signs of life.

Even Shuren, who had watched his hiding spot and kept vigil without seeing him move, felt uneasy, wondering if perhaps he was no longer there, so impressive was his concealment.

But that was all.

The strategy must have been quite good, no doubt.

After all, Eil did manage to secure the smoke signals and was about to submit them to the instructor.

But that’s all there is to the story.

From Shuren’s perspective, the execution was lacking.

The final moment is exactly when one should be most vigilant.

They shouldn’t have come down so defenselessly like that.

The plan went well, but it seems they got hasty at the last moment.

Hydra had repeatedly told Shuren to be careful with Eil.

That was not something to be taken lightly.

It’s reassuring to have allies, but it’s troublesome and annoying to have enemies around, too.

So, it wasn’t such a big deal after all.

They engaged cautiously, drew their blades without lowering their guard, but things ended so anticlimactically.

With Hydra’s warnings echoing in their mind, it’s precisely because of that they felt let down.

The sandstorm is subsiding.

Everyone will return soon.

… As they glanced back, Eil was looking at Shuren.

Not with regret, nor sadness.

Just their usual expressionless face.

No.

Somewhere, there was a bit of, well, a somewhat subtly sad look…

… No, that’s not it.

It’s more like, the sad look was directed towards Shuren—yes.

They couldn’t understand the meaning behind that subtle expression.

But then, as Eil turned towards the tower and uttered those words, it all became clear in a vague sense.

“… Florentine, it’s okay now.”

Florentine.

It’s okay now.

Just go towards the tower.

“… What’s this? It was unexpectedly quick.”

From inside the tower, the Taboo Child, another assassin trainee like Shuren, came out.

She handed over a reasonably heavy-looking leather bag to the instructor.

“…………”

I don’t understand everything.

But I realize I’ve seen something I shouldn’t have.

An unpleasant sweat breaks out, the kind I haven’t felt in a long time, like when facing failure or a blunder.

“… It was easier than I thought.”

That was the impression I had of Shuren.

What I feared the most was that boy from the East.

It was obvious he acted to avoid being seen.

I observed him subtly whenever there was a chance, but he was hard to follow. His presence was minimal, and his movements were quick when no one was watching. Before you know it, she’s gone.

Moreover, once you lose sight of him, you really have no idea where he might be.

In other words, he’s almost just like me.

Well, I don’t know if I’m as skilled as that. But I think it’s pretty impressive that even with a hunter’s skills, he can’t be followed.

The fundamental idea is probably the same as mine.

I don’t want to stand out.

I don’t want to be noticed.

I don’t want to interact with people much.

That sentiment was evident in all his actions. After all, he’s just like me.

Then, it’s a simple matter.

It’s natural to be cautious of someone whose location and point of appearance are unknown.

… If I were Hydra, I would definitely mark Shuren.

… If Shuren and I are similar, then I would definitely be marked.

That was something I had anticipated from the beginning.

The question was, when would they make their move?

Initially, the plan was to gather the signal smokes flying near the tower.

There was a high possibility that Shuren would make contact at this stage.

Being able to move obscured by the sandstorm would be advantageous for me.

So, it would also be advantageous for Shuren.

The next likely scenario would be targeting Florentine, who was keeping the gathered signal smokes.

However, Florentine is strong.

Especially in battles where she needs to defend something. She seems better suited for defense than offense.

So, I thought if she were targeted, it might work out somehow.

… But, at the very last moment, understanding Harriatan’s “potential,” the plan was changed.

To ensure the collection of signal smokes.

And to successfully create a moment when Shuren would definitely make his move.

… I feel a bit bad about it.

Watching him submit the leather bag he took from me to Instructor Evanesque, a slight sense of guilt arises.

I hadn’t expected him to fall for it so completely.

The sandstorm subsided.

I look back at Shuren, who turns around with an expressionless face, with slightly mixed feelings.

… I’m really sorry. I thought there might be a bit more to it… something like that.

You must be similar to me.

But, you’re definitely more straightforward than I am.

“Florentine, that’s enough.”

The task of eliminating Shuren, who had been a target of caution, was completed.

Once the signal smokes were submitted, the rules state that he’s no longer a participant. So, there’s nothing more he can do.

Calling towards the tower, Florentine, who had been waiting inside, opened the door and came out.

“What’s this? Finished sooner than expected, eh?”

Yeah.

I was kind of expecting something more to happen, but it ended smoothly.

… When the plan was changed at the very last minute, Florentine, who was supposed to collect and keep the signal smokes, became available.

There was no reason not to effectively use this valuable free personnel that emerged.

Florentine was asked to disappear into a place where no one would follow her—the inside of the tower.

While everyone rushed out at the start signal, I took the opportunity to have her return to the tower and prepare something, then wait in a classroom on the third floor.

After collecting the signal smokes at the top of the tower and coming down, I met Florentine temporarily at the window on the third floor…

And put the finishing touches.

I gave her five signal smokes, and in exchange, received five potatoes of similar size, which I then placed inside the bag filled with the flares.

… With this, I became the decoy.

… Even if I’m caught, or if the leather bag is taken from me, it won’t affect the victory.

… Florentine was still the keeper guarding the signal smokes, her role didn’t change even though her tasks increased.

The bag is filled with red smoke.

Or rather, it’s not sealed, so it’s leaking a bit.

In this state, just peeking in from the top wouldn’t reveal that everything inside is a signal smoke.

The quickest way to check would be to dump everything out.

If Shuren had done that, he would have discovered the trick. … Well, if he had discovered it, I would have just moved on to the next plan.

But he didn’t check.

He must have thought at a glance that everything was there.

At least, that there were more than the majority of five.

He believed it honestly, without any doubt.

I didn’t expect him to believe it so easily.

If it were me, holding important signal smokes and coming down from the tower without any caution, I would suspect it to be a decoy or a trap from the start.

So, I feel a bit sorry for how easily he was deceived.

And, it was easier than I thought.

That’s what I’m thinking.

Florentine briskly walked up and quickly handed over the leather bag containing five… signal smokes to Instructor Evanesque.

The leather bag taken from me contains four signal smokes and a potato.

The leather bag Florentine just handed over contains five signal smokes.

… And with that, we won.