Request Board (2)

The request Iri received was fairly straightforward.

"…A subjugation request?"

"Yes, a subjugation request. All we have to do is take down this Giant Troll here. Simple, right?"

It was a simple request that ended with just taking down a Giant Troll.

According to the description, this thing was a monster that emerged from beyond the Gate, slipping out of the dungeon right around closing time and holing up in the nearby forest.

Invading species from Gates wreaking havoc on the local ecosystem. It was something that happened pretty often in this world.

In fact, a good chunk of the otherworldly species native to the continent had originated this way.

Even on Earth, invasive species often destroyed existing ecosystems and caused massive environmental damage.

But these guys came from entirely different dimensions. They didn't just disrupt the local ecosystem—they obliterated it.

The longer subjugation was delayed, the more the nearby ley lines became corrupted, eventually turning the area into a demonic realm.

It was one of the two major causes of environmental pollution in this world, alongside dungeon breaks and "demonic corruption."

"It's a single-target request—just one monster—so it shouldn't take too long."

…Yeah, on paper, sure.

Compared to subjugating hundreds of sewer rats, taking down a single individual seemed easier.

It was a request that ended with just one kill.

The problem was that the difficulty hinged entirely on what that "one" was.

I hadn't seen the request's difficulty rating.

Probably only Iri, who accepted it, knew.

"Alright, let's go!"

Watching Iri stride forward confidently, I followed with half-resigned steps.

A bright, positive attitude was great and all.

But how long it would last? Honestly, I had no idea.

I hope it goes well.

…

"Shion! Save me! I'm gonna die! Shion!"

Boom—!

A club the size of a person whipped through the air.

Every swing of the tree-trunk club sent a fierce gust slashing like a blade.

"Aaaah! Ack!"

Iri barely dodging it was impressive, and the troll swinging that massive thing one-handed was equally monstrous.

I'd figured a Giant Troll would be big from the name alone, but the one in front of us was at least 1.5 times larger than I'd imagined.

I had to crane my neck to see its face.

Just watching from afar made my neck ache.

At five meters tall, its sheer size was a weapon in itself.

While low-grade sewer rats relied on numbers despite their small size, this Giant Troll bet on its colossal bulk despite being rare.

And not only was it huge—the weapon it swung was enormous too.

Try to block that clumsily, and you'd be done for.

That's why Iri was desperately fleeing from the club.

"Aaaah! Help! Save me!"

Thud—!

The club slammed vertically into the ground.

Iri rolled away in a panic, but a massive crater formed where she'd been.

If that had hit, she wouldn't even have a body left—just pulverized.

Even watching made me shiver.

"Who in their right mind accepts ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠something like this?"

"It was the only way to rack up achievements!"

"Achievements?"

"Yeah! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Achievements…!"

The club swung horizontally.

Thinking she couldn't dodge this one, Iri braced herself.

She thrust her sword out to meet it.

The size difference was too much to parry outright, but she was holding her own, barely.

"That doesn't mean you take on something you can't handle."

"Is that something to say while just standing there watching?! Help me! We're a team! Team!"

I sighed and stood up.

There was a reason I hadn't jumped in yet.

"You said you needed achievements."

"…What?!"

"If I take it down, your achievement share drops."

"So you're just gonna watch from back there?! You said you'd help!"

…Well, I did say that.

"Didn't expect it to be a single-target subjugation."

"That's mean! Ack?!"

With those words, Iri finally succumbed to the strain and went flying.

She poked her head up from the bushes, looking a mix of angry, wronged, and betrayed—grinding her teeth.

-Guuuaack.

And now the Giant Troll was staring at me.

It probably saw me as Iri's companion or something.

Spot on, but… whatever.

"Hah…"

I glanced at Iri.

She staggered to her feet, wobbling unsteadily—like she'd topple with a nudge.

I gripped my Glock.

Guess it had to end like this.

My Sense had warned me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from the start, but I'd hoped it'd be different this time.

Unfortunately, Iri still had a long way to go.

Mastering the secret swordsmanship would take time.

She'd just barely grasped the first form, and there were over ten that I remembered.

Besides, I couldn't teach her anyway.

This was growth she had to achieve herself—a task given to her alone.

That's why I'd planned to let her subjugate the troll this time.

I thought it'd give her good motivation.

"Help me…"

"……."

As the saying goes, seeing is believing.

No amount of simulator runs could match real combat experience.

Even the same training time—pummeling a sandbag versus rolling in actual fights—created fundamental differences.

Sandbag training gave experience, sure, but combat-exclusive know-how was on another level.

Arsen aimed for "combat-ready cadets," after all.

The top cadets always prioritized real fights over theory.

"Last chance: you sure I can take it down?"

"I don't care! At this rate, we'll both die!"

"For real?"

Iri flinched at my double-check.

Dawning realization, maybe.

"…Probably."

Probably? Not super reassuring.

…Whatever. Good chance to test the new sub-ability anyway.

One of the powers from acquiring Hunter's Insight.

First, I activated 'Weak Point Detection' on the Giant Troll.

My vision turned monochrome, the troll's form stark against it.

Red dots glowed across its blue-tinged body—its weak points, as flagged by 'Weak Point Detection.'

Next, 'Bullet of Conviction.'

With a minimum 1,000 mana cost and once-per-day limit, this would be my ace move from now on.

In the original story, it was the sniper tech tree's ultimate technique.

It'd make up for my lacking firepower.

…And it didn't end there.

Snipers burned mana like mages.

The unspoken rule: dump all remaining mana into firepower.

Even as a Player sniper, I followed it.

Might as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠well go all-out this time.

Needed to test max output from my level-upped Sharpshooter anyway.

I squeezed out every drop of mana, activating all Sharpshooter sub-abilities.

Couldn't before due to mana exhaustion, but now? Once was feasible.

Mana-enhanced firepower.

Output and stability boost.

Recoil compensation.

Finally, Sharpshooter's sub-ability: 'Damage scaling with mana.'

Click—

Prep complete, I aimed at the troll.

Its weak points blazed via 'Weak Point Detection.'

Crunch— Boom!

The troll charged.

Its club shattered nearby trees.

I targeted its head—precisely the forehead between its eyes.

The brightest red spot, its biggest weakness.

-Guoooargh!

It closed in fast.

Raised its club to cleave the sky.

As it swung down, I pulled the trigger.

A beam lanced from the barrel, piercing its forehead.

The supersonic bullet's path was barely trackable even with Telescopic Vision.

Bang—!

The delayed gunshot echoed last.

The troll's massive body crumpled.

***

That day's request wrapped up successfully.

Subjugation finished faster than expected, leaving plenty of time.

But what followed didn't go as planned.

While Shion panicked, Iri was thrilled with the situation.

"You okay?"

"What reaction you hoping for?"

"Just checking if you're alright or anything weird."

Shion Illeionhart had been dragged to Arpen's commercial district.

Not by choice.

They'd planned to wander nearby then head back to Arsen, but Iri half-forced him along.

Stepping into the shopping street instead of the train platform was the mistake.

"What do you think?"

"……."

Iri beamed, arms full of clothes.

Shion looked troubled.

But more importantly—

"You won't wear stuff like this much at Arsen anyway. Why buy it?"

"Aw, come on! Just this once!"

Begging for one more look, Shion finally relented, inspecting closely with a stroke of his chin.

Result:

"Color-wise, left one's better?"

"But right one's more versatile."

"Buy both then."

"B-Both? Both?"

While Iri pondered, Shion strode forward.

Tagged his watch without hesitation.

"Huh? You're buying? No need…"

"Nah. Deduct from your request payout."

"Wait, why decide that on your own?!"

Shion, mid-yawn, dropped the bomb.

"You asked me to pick. I did. Both."

"Still…!"

Fuming, Iri ultimately followed his judgment.

Shion's contribution score crushed hers anyway.

She'd taken the request, but he'd done the killing.

No point arguing.

In the end, buying both was the right call.

Picking one would've left regrets; both meant none.

"Thanks for today, Shion."

As they exited the shop, the sunset glow was gone.

Night had deepened to midnight.

"Today's fine, but next time, only take what you can handle."

"I know. I'll be more careful next time."

"Easy to say. Sure you will."

"You don't believe me?!"

Still, her thanks were sincere.

The return trip flew by compared to the way there.

Stepping off the platform, raindrops fell from the sky.

"Was rain in the forecast?"

"Dunno… Too early for a shower."

The clear sky had turned overcast.

Rain intensified, soaking their cadet uniforms in seconds.

"Umbrella, umbrella… None? Wait, really?"

Frantically searching for cover, she glanced at Shion.

His face was grim.

His vibe had shifted—like a different person.

"Shion, what's wrong?"

She tapped his shoulder, called again, but he stayed frozen.

Iri didn't know, but Shion was staring at a message visible only to him.

Something she couldn't fathom.

Shion looked up.

As Iri opened her mouth, he kicked off the ground.

She chased belatedly, but he was already gone.

"Shion…?"

Standing in the rain, she gazed skyward.

Arsen's sky was blanketed in storm clouds.

Lightning flickered.

Rumble— Boom—!

Thunder and bolts split Arsen's sky.

***

Same time, student council room.

Unlike usual, thunder crashed through the night.

"Why's it so dark all of a sudden?"

"Power outage. Lightning hit something weird."

"How long till it's fixed? Our backup files are gone."

"Just heard—probably tomorrow."

"…Tomorrow?"

Secretary Amelia frowned.

This wouldn't do.

Tomorrow at earliest? With tasks piling up, delays would bury them.

Workload already grinding down student council staff—no room for wasted days.

How to handle this…

No point keeping executives longer, so Amelia decided.

"I'll handle the rest. You all go ahead."

"Then we'll head out!"

"Good work, Secretary."

She sent the rest home.

…

Creeeak. Click.

"Lady Rebecca."

Alone now, Amelia sensed something off late.

Rebecca, silent till now, stood gazing out the window.

Amelia swallowed.

Boom!

Lightning flashed, illuminating the dark room.

Gale-force winds shattered every window.

Rain poured in.

"…Lady Rebecca?"

Amelia gripped her staff.

Instinct screamed.

This wasn't Rebecca von Anastasia Grander.

Appearance same, but utterly changed.

The aura felt alien.

Pouring…!

Rain drowned all sound.

Amelia fired a mana bolt first.

It ricocheted wildly.

Rebecca deflected it barehanded.

"Who… are you?"

Rebecca, standing blankly in the rain, turned.

Smiling, for some reason.