The Villain is Too Good at Sniping

90. Outing (1)

According to the original plan, I should have returned to Arsene directly.

Arsene’s first written exam was approaching, and I was worried about it.

Although the written exam is just a minor episode in daily life, many incidents arise from it, making it an event that cannot be overlooked.

The three individuals who will be in the spotlight are:

First, Serin Anett, who scores full marks in practical skills but zero in theory; second, Kyle Ivanstear, whose scores are precarious in both areas; and third, Lara Steelhaiden, who excels in theory but is weak in practical skills.

The early stages of the second act will be filled with minor incidents involving these three. I wanted to confirm whether the second act would unfold smoothly.

Therefore, my original plan was to return to the Esperanza family’s main house, complete the annual event of defeating the demons, and then head back to Arsene. I thought I could take a short break and then apply for another outing permit.

However, putting out the urgent fire took priority.

“Your ticket has been confirmed.”

I’m now on the magical train that crosses the continent.

Since Isabella granted me permission for an external outing, I had to abide by the conditions set by Arsene, just like when I attended the worship ceremony with Isabella.

“Siion Illeayonhart, how far did you expect this to go?”

“I’m not sure. This part was beyond my expectations.”

“Is that so…”

I now have a travel companion. Arsene has forcibly assigned a colleague to accompany me.

To be honest, that’s the situation.

First, I extended my outing period. That was the starting point of everything.

I didn’t expect my outing period to be extended. Since this was my first outing, I was worried about going against Arsene’s will.

-“I will accept the extension of your outing period.”

-“…Yes?”

-“The conditions are the same as before. You’ll have to take responsibility for the scores you earn during that time.”

However, Isabella readily agreed. Since there was no harm in doing so, I took a chance, but Arsene suddenly took the bait.

-“You have a task to complete.”

However, Arsene had its own requirements.

-“The Magic Engineering Expo will be held in Eliseum soon. We’ll send a student council delegation to conduct a preliminary survey before the event.”

-“As Arsene’s staff, it’s a mandatory schedule. The upper authorities will receive a report about the delegation’s participation. So…”

It means I’ll be accompanying the delegation to the Magic Engineering Expo’s preliminary survey.

To extend my outing period, I had to discuss the destination and duration, which were the given requirements.

It’s not about helping the student council with their work or anything grand; they just want me to tag along. I had expected this to happen, so I had planned accordingly.

Since it’s just a matter of boarding the same train, there’s no reason to refuse. Besides, Eliseum was my original destination anyway.

During the process, I joined the student council’s delegation and boarded the train with them, ending up seated across from Rebecca, the current student council president.

“I never thought I’d meet you here like this, Rebecca.”

“…….”

“However, it’s unexpected that the permission to go out has already been granted. I thought it would take more time.”

Rebecca didn’t respond. She pretended not to know, gazing out the window. Suddenly, she blurted out:

“…It’s been decided that my existence won’t harm Arsen. It took a whole week.”

Rebecca’s expression was somehow unconvincing. I could sense that she was uncomfortable, but I didn’t know why.

“Did you have a comfortable time during the week you left Arsen, Sion Ileionheart.”

“It’s not that I was comfortable, but… I don’t remember it being uncomfortable.”

“I thought you attended a family event as a representative of your family.”

“If I had to say… it was a family event.”

We climbed walls, fought against the Jo-in tribe, and even dealt with the Esperando officials. It wasn’t a situation where I could say I was comfortable.

However, since it was a family event, it was roughly correct. It was a gathering of fellow trainees who had completed their training together.

Rebecca closed her eyes for a moment, as if she was deeply thinking about something.

When she opened her eyes again, her gaze had changed, as if she had made up her mind. It was a subtle change, but I could sense it with my [Thousand-Mile Eye].

“The Sacred Doctrine’s missionary activities are becoming more frequent. If this continues, it will inevitably affect the students’ academic lives. Sion Ileionheart, what do you think about this.”

“Are you asking for my opinion now.”

“It’s not an opinion, but a consultation.”

Rebecca said it wasn’t an opinion, but a ‘consultation’.

This was originally something I should have said to Amelia.

“The Sacred Doctrine didn’t visit Arsen to proselytize to the students. That’s just a secondary goal.”

Just looking at the reason why the Sacred Doctrine’s Isabel priestess visited Arsen, it was because of the ghost incident that occurred in the dormitory. The Sacred Doctrine was sent to Arsen to prevent similar incidents.

Even though Rebecca’s student council occupation incident occurred, it was resolved safely thanks to Isabel priestess’s help…

In reality, it wasn’t Isabel priestess who took action, but I who confronted Iana. However, this was unknown to the public, and even those involved only knew that I took Isabel’s place.

“The Sacred Doctrine is an existence that Arsen cannot do without. From now on, we will continue to provide big and small help in the events that occur in Arsen.”

As the second act has begun, the Mine Association will officially start to take action.

Conflicts between the Hunter Association, Arsen, and the Mine Association will soon arise. The Sacred Doctrine will stand on Arsen’s side and oppose the unjust, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on this world’s future.

“So, I think… it’s not that bad. Even looking at just you and Rebecca, we were able to survive thanks to Isabel priestess’s help.”

Clutch—

Rebecca clenched her fist. She didn’t want to acknowledge the fact that she received help, or maybe there was another reason.

Maybe she was reminiscing about her deceased sister Iana. Whatever the reason, it wasn’t my place to intervene.

“Well, Rebecca.”

But when I thought about it again, it wasn’t the time to stay silent. There was another problem that needed to be decided.

“Remember what Isabel priestess said last time.”

“……?”

“That, you might step down from the student council president position.”

Rebecca’s eyebrows twitched. She narrowed her eyes, pretending not to know, and looked at me.

However, the past is the past. Now is not the time to be stuck in the past, but to move forward.

“Are you really planning to step down from the student council president position?”

A brief silence fell. Only the sound of the train’s wheels rolling on the tracks could be heard faintly.

“…Originally…”

Rebecca sat with a thoughtful expression, choosing her words carefully, before cautiously opening her lips.

“Originally, I was going to take responsibility for the student council occupation incident that happened last time. By stepping down as student council president.”

Rebecca’s gaze, which had been lowered, was different from before. Until a while ago, her eyes had been sharp, but now they were soft and calm.

“That was my original intention.”

“Are you saying that you’ve changed your mind now?”

“…….”

Rebecca took a moment to swallow before responding.

The answer came a little later.

“My conclusion is that it’s not necessary. Arsene is in chaos, and the student council is unstable. Someone needs to take responsibility, but it doesn’t have to be in the form of stepping down.”

It was welcome news to my ears.

“I, as the student council president, need to resolve this situation. If I step down, it will only worsen the chaos in Arsene.”

“That’s exactly what I’m worried about. That’s why I’m telling you this.”

“Yes…….”

Rebecca corrected her posture and looked out the window. I followed her gaze to the green scenery outside.

“Some people will take advantage of the chaotic situation to fulfill their own desires, and others will use it as an excuse to distort the situation to their advantage. That’s what’s happening now, and the same atmosphere is present in Arsene’s student council.”

Rebecca had to remain as the student council president.

“That’s why I’ll stay as Arsene’s student council president. If not me, there’s no one else who can fill the vacancy.”

Before the student council occupation incident, Rebecca had told me something.

She wanted me to support Amelia, the secretary, to lead the student council, saying it would be enough.

I ultimately didn’t accept that proposal. I saved both Amelia and Rebecca. In the storm that was to come to Arsene, I needed these two people.

Rebecca said there was no one to replace her as student council president, but surprisingly, there was someone in Arsene who could take her place.

For now, Rebecca was keeping a low profile, but as soon as she stepped down as student council president, that person would reveal their true intentions.

‘Cecilia Brown, a 2nd-year student.’

In the original story, Cecilia, a 2nd-year student, would succeed as Arsene’s student council president.

Cecilia, who had been jealous of Rebecca and had been waiting for an opportunity, finally got her chance to take the student council president position. It was the result of mobilizing her connections.

Her intention was to correct the chaotic center of Arsene.

But the actual events that unfolded were entirely different.

As soon as Cecilia Brown became student council president, she erased Rebecca’s traces and started by overturning the student council. In the process, most of the existing student council members were eliminated.

The empty student council was filled with Cecilia’s incompetent acquaintances, and eventually, the student council gave birth to a second tyrant.

Cecilia, in fact, destroyed the student council… and ruined half of Arsene’s curriculum, causing trouble for the students, including the main characters.

This chaos continued until the student council president election was held again when Kyle became a 2nd-year student. Various incidents and accidents occurred during this time, of course.

If Rebecca continued to remain as student council president, none of this would have happened. Cecilia wouldn’t have had the opportunity to rise, and Arsene’s chaos would have ended sooner.

That’s why I looked at Rebecca. I looked into her eyes and conveyed my sincerity.

“Rebecca, you need to stay as student council president.”

Just like I’ve been saying until now, and will continue to say in the future.

Rebecca had to stand at the center of the student council and lead Arsene.

“If not Rebecca, who else can take on the role of student council president? As Rebecca said, if we need to control people like Kyle, we ultimately need the authority of the student council.”

Authority isn’t something that is claimed or given by others; true authority comes from within a person themselves.

It’s not about taking special actions, but rather naturally exuding an aura that is truly authoritative.

Cecilia doesn’t have it, but Rebecca does.

That’s what authority is. The student council president should be Rebecca.

“I hope Rebecca remains as the student council president. Please continue to serve until the day you graduate from Arsene.”

“…Why is that?”

“No grand reason, just because I want it to be so.”

The train swayed violently. The urban scenery outside the window was getting closer and closer.

“No grand reason, I just want it to be so.”

It’s not about having a grand reason; it’s just that I want it to be so.

…That’s the only reason.

The fact that Rebecca exists in this world is enough to satisfy me. The original story’s crappy plot is already meaningful just because of that.

But if I had to give a reason why Rebecca should remain as the student council president…

It’s because, just like in the original story, Rebecca is the only one suitable for the position.

Rebecca wants to break free from the shackles of Grandeur. But that’s not something that can be done immediately.

It takes time to slowly break free. If Rebecca were to suddenly shed the Grandeur persona, she would be left all alone, with nothing.

Completely naked.

If she were to lose the student council president position as well, the Rebecca I saved would crumble on her own.

“Anyway, that’s my opinion. It’s better for you to remain as the student council president, I think.”

It’s still uneasy, like walking on thin ice, but I’m confident that Rebecca can break free from her shackles and soar.

The Rebecca I saw in the original story was strong, but the real Rebecca I met was fragile and delicate, like a glass shoe.

Before meeting Ian, Rebecca was unstable, on the verge of breaking. Ian’s ability to manipulate Rebecca’s body was also due to Rebecca’s incomplete inner self.

But Rebecca overcame it. When I faced Ian, Rebecca also fought her internal battles.

And she won.

Although it’s not visible, Rebecca has definitely grown. She’ll become even stronger in the future.

At least until Rebecca can stand on her own two feet.

Not as Grandeur’s Rebecca, not as the student council president Rebecca, but as just one person, Rebecca.

The student council president position will give Rebecca the strength to not crumble. For now, that’s the best it can be.

“…….”

Rebecca didn’t respond, but I think my message got through.

I leaned back against the seat and enjoyed the scenery outside.

Beyond the approaching platform, I saw the towering white mage tower, the ivory tower, said to be the greatest in the continent.

– The next station is ‘Elysium’. Please prepare to disembark.

As the train announcement ended, the magic train sped towards the platform. I saw the cityscape outside, with its Arcane Punk vibe.

Elysium, the city of magic engineering, where the mage tower stood tall, and Ian Steelhiden was in hiding.