The Day Before the Entrance Exam (1)

I rested my sniper rifle on a flat rock. My strength wasn't enough to just pick it up and fire. The recoil would obviously be too much to handle.

"Alright, let's see..."

I dropped into a prone position on the ground. I lined up the sights on the demon, Zarnox. The bastard was rampaging, ripping people apart and swatting away his escorts. I planned to provide support as quickly as possible.

First, how to infuse it with mana. Since I'd just possessed this body, it might not be familiar, but I knew the method.

"According to the settings, it's in the body."

I guided some unknown energy to my fingertips. The faint, murky mana of Level 1. It was extremely thin, but it existed. A tiny mana orb formed at my fingertip, like a dewdrop. I poured it into the sniper rifle.

But since I'm still unskilled, I don't know how to control it. All my mana was converted into a bullet. Even this might not be enough. The opponent was a Level 50 demon, after all.

"Is it ready?"

A blue haze wrapped around the barrel. Peering ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠inside, I saw a glowing mana bullet loaded. That's when the text appeared.

"Oh, right."

Master of Sniping, one of its traits: Insight. It provides additional bonuses based on the opponent's element and level.

"It's a demon right now. Let's go with light."

Elements have counters. For demons, it's evil. The opposite is light. An age-old tradition. I infused extra light element mana.

The blue smoke swirling around the sniper rifle gradually turned white. I aimed at the demon. Various functions appeared: wind direction, distance, the demon's info. But the sight's internal functions were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠unreal too—the view expanded like a sniper scope, and suddenly a blue crosshair popped up, locking onto the target.

The dramatic activation of Perfect Accuracy and Clairvoyance.

A surge of vitality rushed through my entire body. My level had risen, boosting my overall physical abilities and mana.

I poured in mana to the max. The firearm brimmed with a thousand units of mana, shining brighter than before.

Kuooooh!

The demon roared. Meanwhile, things were perfectly calm here. Striking unilaterally from outside the enemy's range of vision—that's what a sniper does. Perfect conditions for me.

The moment Zarnox swung his arm at Lumina, I hooked my finger on the trigger.

Kwaaaaaah!

"Ngh—!"

The bullet fired instantly. A deafening whoosh shook the forest. The projectile streaked in a straight line toward the demon, severing its head, refracting, diffracting, and shredding its entire body. It wasn't just a metaphor—its head really flew off into the sky. Blood sprayed, and the massive body crumpled to its knees. Light etched into the demon's flesh, turning it to ash.

Lumina stared at the scene in stunned disbelief.

"Ow ow... that dropped a lot."

I clutched my numb hands and throbbing spots. I needed to raise my strength soon. The recoil had nearly flung me back.

The smoke, noise, and kick—all would improve as the weapon evolved. That was my primary goal.

I hadn't expected a one-shot on Zarnox, but...

"Better hurry."

I grabbed the sniper rifle and stood. Lingering could spell trouble. My foundation was that of a loser. Best to stay low, avoid detection, and live comfortably. Like an extra. I didn't want risky challenges tangling with the leads—especially not Lumina at the center.

I used Concealment to blend into the cluttered terrain and slipped away quickly. A sniper leaves no traces—that's basic.

Groooar!

"Eek—!"

The demon advanced on Lumina step by step. His massive shadow loomed over her.

'Th-this is...'

The situation was utterly hopeless. Her expensive escorts lay defeated. They hadn't lasted even one exchange—veterans with adventurer guild badges, crushed mercilessly. That showed the demon's overwhelming power.

No countermeasures left. Sparks of mana crackled from her palm cut by grass blades, as if mocking her lack of focus—the mage's virtue.

She wanted to summon a combat spirit, but time was critically short.

"P-please..."

Lumina squeezed out a trembling voice. She'd die like this. The thought paled her face.

"M-Mom, Dad..."

Lumina lived with spirits, came to the capital ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for adventure, dreaming of becoming the top spirit summoner. She'd decided on Artina Academy's entrance exam. But such a pointless death?

She didn't want to die accomplishing nothing. Her family surfaced first: Dad, Mom, little brother, grandma, kind villagers. She'd owed them so much, unreturned. What a failure.

Trembling in fear, tears welled in her eyes. Even nature pitied her—a warm breeze brushed by. Fluid spirits gathered around.

Kuooooh!

Zarnox ignored them, following his directive: exterminate all humans. Only the girl remained.

He swung his arm; Lumina squeezed her eyes shut.

Whoosh!

"Hic—!"

I don't want to die! Lumina's cry echoed in her mind. That's when it happened.

Kwaaaaaah!

A deafening boom assaulted her ears. Compressed air pressure like an explosion. The world shook; trees swayed wildly.

Lumina squinted against the fierce wind. Ahead, raw physical force tore the earth. The demon had turned to scattering ash.

"What just...?"

She couldn't process it. Veterans from the guild couldn't touch it, yet it vanished in one hit?

Lumina scanned around. Then the sky caught her eye; she gasped blankly.

"Whoa..."

The cloudy, humid sky had split cleanly, as if something powerful had passed through.

"Who did...?"

Questions piled up. No attacker in sight. Turning to the mountain...

"Huh...?"

A tiny pinpoint of light flickered. High on the ridge, somewhere. Lens glare.

"Prine, help me."

Lumina focused. She'd already manifested her sub-spirit. Sparks wasted mana again, but all-in changed things.

'Can't do combat spirit, but a low sub-spirit...!'

No guarantee that person helped her, but she had to thank her benefactor. It went against her conscience otherwise.

Through the spirit's eyes, she zoomed in. A boy turning away, heavy firearm slung on his back. Silver hair catching the light. Face unseen.

Then he vanished. But Lumina wouldn't let him go.

"Prine, go. Find him."

A bird bloomed in Lumina's hand. The lesser wind spirit soared high.

Her friend, Prine. She'd bring back the benefactor's info.

Fly, Prine!

"Miss Lumina! Are you okay?!"

The recovered coachman and escorts rushed over.

"Haha, everyone's fine. I met my savior."

Lumina just smiled brightly in response.

"Phew, tough."

I trudged along the forest path. Sniper stamina meant I was winded quick. Might not make Artina Academy in time.

But they dropped me here for a reason. A plan.

"Keep walking steadily, and I'll get there?"

The academy buildings loomed closer than before. Evening arrival seemed doable. I sat on a rock to catch my breath. The valley stream sprayed cool mist.

Might as well check rewards from the demon. "Status window."

"Oh..."

Seemed unchanged at first glance, but there were differences.

"Mana increased."

Level up boosted mana. 100 per level—promising growth ahead. Killing a Level 50 only gave 4 levels? Stingy, but locked due to level bands.

"Like certain hardcore users."

Those skipping routes to boss-rush early. To prevent abnormal play, exp locks every 5 levels. Excess exp vanishes at 5, 10, 15, etc. Good intent.

"Screwed myself."

I made the system. Self-inflicted. Karma.

"Anyway, 10 stats to invest."

Better use 'em. Stats were the player's cheat—no effort, massive growth.

"Only one choice."

Strength. To handle recoil. Shoulder still ached from one shot.

"All 10 to strength."

My trash-tier strength rose decently. Sudden power surge. Not rock-lifting yet, but...

"Next, the title?"

Effect as expected. Useful late-game damage boost. Artina Academy's final boss was the pinnacle demon, empowered by the demon god. Essential achievement.

"Next, karma..."

5 karma. Higher karma boosts likability, usable as currency. Good stuff—collect steadily. Also weapon evolution material.

All rewards checked, I stood. Break over. Time to move.

Grrrowl.

Stomach growled. Pulled rations from bag: stale wheat bread, scant amount. Eat and go.

I bit in.

"Tasteless..."

So tough it barely chewed. Dipped in stream water to swallow.

Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!

Then a bird landed on my shoulder. Cute.

"Hungry too, huh?"

Shared a piece to sate it. Sun high—no night yet.