LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 31
Chapter 31: Assassination Game (4)
Somehow, it felt strange.
“So, according to the company commander, there are various items inside that strange box?”
“Yes.”
“…Sounds mysterious.”
Even a child looking at this map would think.
‘I should hold out.’
However, with no food or survival items provided,
it was obvious that it would turn into a fight of who could endure hunger and discomfort longer, rather than a war.
Such boring and predictable training wasn’t very efficient.
“The one who takes that will probably be the winner of this game.”
That box was clearly an intentional addition of a new element.
It probably contained numerous survival items.
Like tools to start a fire.
Or high-quality food that could last for quite a while.
Either way, they were essential items.
The team that lost that box would be left with only one option.
They’d have to rush in, whether it meant victory or death, because sitting idly without food wasn’t an option.
She rose from her seat.
“Where are you going?”
“To get that.”
“W-wait! It’s dangerous.”
“Yes! The Red team has Argos, and he can snipe from long distances.”
Even for Beatrice, it was impossible to fend off long-range attacks without mana.
It was indeed risky, but.
“If it’s the Argos I know, he won’t attack.”
She spoke with certainty.
Not because she trusted Argos, but because she trusted his curiosity.
By now, he was probably also wondering what was inside that box.
‘It’s an unspoken agreement.’
Beatrice stepping forward was both a gesture of trust and a demand.
‘Come out, Argos.’
It was akin to shouting loudly through a megaphone.
Of course, if his intelligence was at the level of a frog, it would be meaningless.
But Argos was quite clever, so he would understand instantly.
She grabbed her sword and stepped out.
She intended to negotiate.
“What is that?”
The Red Team was whispering among themselves.
Argos frowned.
“I’m not sure, but it’s definitely something important. There’s no way Reiser would place it there without a purpose.”
The conclusion was clear. They didn’t know what that box was, but it had to be something important.
Reiser was a meticulous person. He wouldn’t do something meaningless.
Moreover, that box was practically begging to be taken, with its smoke signaling from a distance.
“Could it be a trap?”
“A trap?”
“When you open that box…”
The cadet speaking in a serious tone suddenly spread his arms wide.
“It goes boom!”
“Do you hear yourself? Why would Reiser do something like that?”
“You haven’t been hit by Beatrice Cenci before, have you?”
“No, I haven’t.”
He was a cadet from the losing side.
Recalling yesterday’s events, he shuddered.
“They say it was like dying. He barely survived. The pain was… horrific.”
Of course, it was all nonsense.
Beatrice had been wielding a wooden sword, and even with the tiny amount of mana she used, it wasn’t capable of inflicting serious injuries.
Yet, the cadet exaggerated as he shared the story.
“He was a mess. But thanks to the priest’s exceptional skills, he survived. It’s the same this time. That box? I’m betting it’s a trap. It’ll definitely explode. There must be a self-destruct magic circle on it. They probably feel confident they can save us, even if we don’t die, but we’ll lose the game.”
“Do you even hear yourself?”
Argos thought it was the most absurd thing he’d heard all year.
Even so, the cadet’s words made him feel uneasy.
Thinking about it, it didn’t matter what the box was. The only thing they needed to do was stop the enemy from taking it first.
‘It’s better to just watch for now.’
Of course, it wasn’t because he was afraid it might be a trap.
“Argos!”
At that moment, a cadet shouted loudly.
“Cenci has appeared. She’s walking this way alone!”
“What?”
Argos’ eyes widened.
“Move aside.”
He climbed a tree to check for himself.
It was true.
Beatrice Cenci was leisurely walking toward them, carrying only a single sword.
Then, she suddenly lifted her head.
More precisely, she was looking at the tree Argos had climbed.
‘…! From this distance?’
It was easily over 400 feet.
And this was a forest. Her view should have been blocked by the trees.
But Beatrice was staring directly at Argos.
Goosebumps ran over his entire body.
‘Solid, can you locate Argos? He must be watching by now.’
[What do you take this great Solid for? That’s simple enough.]
‘Here?’
[No, a little more to the left… Yes, there.]
Beatrice gestured toward Argos, signaling for him to come out.
That’s right.
The reason she could accurately pinpoint Argos from this distance was thanks to Solid.
‘He’s coming.’
Not long after,
a figure emerged from the Red Team’s camp.
It was Argos.
She waited patiently.
“What’s your business?”
He stopped at a distance where he could see her clearly.
She gestured with her hand.
“You’re too far. Come closer.”
Argos smirked.
“Are you crazy? You want me to step into your range?”
“…I just want to talk.”
“I can hear you perfectly fine from here. Speak.”
He was being stubborn.
Beatrice frowned.
“I can’t hear you well.”
“Oh, Beatrice, don’t take me for a fool.”
“I never did.”
“I’ve seen you fight three times now.”
He shrugged.
“You always move only when a certain distance is closed.”
“…That’s just because it’s annoying.”
“Not once have you made the first move, at least in my memory.”
“Stop saying weird things.”
“Which is why I can’t help but think, ah, she must have a certain range where she’s strong. I don’t know exactly what it is, though.”
‘This is why I hate sharp-witted people.’
Argos’ words made sense.
Beatrice couldn’t do anything if her opponent was at a long distance.
This was especially true since her current state was heavily restricted.
She had to conserve her mana and couldn’t afford to use it for movement.
“So, you were planning to call me over and take me down, but sorry, that won’t work.”
“Coward.”
“…Call it being smart.”
“Coward.”
“……”
“Coward.”
“Enough!”
‘I guess I’ll have to abandon that plan.’
In truth, Argos’ guess was correct.
While Beatrice had initially called him over to discuss the box, she also had another secondary goal in mind.
To take Argos down.
She had planned to quickly knock him out while he was off guard.
But with him keeping such a distance, it was impossible.
The method she used against Clone in the past couldn’t be applied here.
She had no mana to spare, and he was too far away.
“Fine. Let’s get to the point. Stay there and listen like the coward you are.”
“…I’ll listen from here. I’m not going to hand over my Mana Heart for a moment of pride.”
“Suit yourself, coward.”
Beatrice pointed at the box with her finger.
“This— I’ll open it for now. Do you agree?”
“Sure.”
The box was quite large.
It couldn’t be carried away stealthily.
If she intended to do that, she wouldn’t have called him here in the first place.
Argos stared at the box with curiosity-filled eyes.
Beatrice walked over and opened it.
Just as expected.
“Food.”
“Sleeping bags.”
“And several cooking tools.”
The two locked eyes.
These were items their respective teams absolutely needed.
The question now was how to handle them.
“Shall we fight?”
“……”
Argos knew.
There wasn’t another way.
But he hesitated at the thought of resorting to such a barbaric solution.
Fighting once to end this game was one thing.
But he didn’t want to fight over something like this.
It felt too cruel.
‘Isn’t there a more gentlemanly way?’
He knew it.
Controlling one’s desires without shedding blood was impossible.
These supplies were critical.
The team that secured them would have a much higher chance of winning the game.
Both sides would undoubtedly fight desperately for them.
“Make a choice. I’m hungry.”
Beatrice stared at Argos sharply.
“…Let’s do it this way.”
Argos made his decision.
He clenched his fist, the gauntlet on his hand making a cold sound as it moved.
As he drew upon the power of his spirit, flames swirled around him.
“We’ll settle this between us. The winner takes everything.”
-A smirk.
Beatrice liked Argos’ choice.
She raised her sword with one hand.
“Confident? I rarely lose one-on-one.”
“Normally, I wouldn’t be, but you’re human too. You must be exhausted after the last battle.”
“So, keeping your distance wasn’t because you feared my ambush. …It was to gain a positional advantage.”
“Correct.”
“Coward.”
“Adapting the environment to your advantage is a skill.”
After saying this, Argos activated the power of his spirit.
“But let me tell you one thing. Against overwhelming skill, matchups become meaningless.”
Though she spoke boldly,
Beatrice had to immediately close her mouth.
-Thud.
A thin line of flame shot toward her.
She deflected it with her sword, but the flame scattered and persistently followed her.
Dodging nimbly, Beatrice analyzed the situation.
‘This is bad.’
Argos, knowing Beatrice’s skill, wasn’t letting his guard down.
Whenever she advanced a step, he retreated a step.
He never allowed her to close the gap.
Because of his careful maneuvers, she couldn’t charge recklessly.
The standoff dragged on. At this rate, Beatrice’s stamina would deplete first.
[Young Beatrice, your chances of winning this battle are low. Are you aware?]
‘I know.’
[Make a pact with me. If you do, victory will come easily.]
Solid, who had been silent for a while, whispered enticingly.
-Whoosh.
An unpleasant smell stung her nose.
Her hair was slightly singed.
This time, it had been dangerously close.
Her chances of victory were plummeting into single digits.
She had to make her move before they dropped any further.
‘If I can advance two more steps.’
With her remaining mana, she could close the gap in just two strides.
But that was easier said than done. Argos was cautious and meticulously wearing her down.
‘…I guess there’s no other choice.’
She realized it was time to end this.
A single strategy came to mind.
It was a method usable only in sparring, not in actual combat.
That was:
Fear.
-Tap.
Beatrice, who had been enduring constant harassment, kicked off the ground and dashed toward Argos.
His eyes widened.
Her speed was extraordinary.
Her movements were unpredictable, her steps mysterious.
‘Stay calm.’
Argos controlled his flames. He was momentarily flustered, but it was within his calculations.
-Swoosh!
From a charging position, there were inevitably openings.
Argos aimed for those gaps.
Flames flew toward Beatrice ferociously.
Their target was near her shoulder—a spot that could effectively incapacitate her.
‘What now, Beatrice? You’ve run out of room to dodge.’
A victorious grin spread across Argos’ face.
The moment he thought, “I’ve won,”—
Beatrice did something unexpected.
She didn’t seem intent on dodging the flames.
Instead, she leaned her neck toward them.
‘…!’
Argos’ eyes widened.
The flames, imbued with his spirit’s power, had enough cutting force to pierce her delicate neck.
At this rate, she would die.
The sparring was supposed to determine a winner, not to kill.
Without time to think, Argos pulled his flames back.
-A smirk.
At that moment, Argos met her gaze.
Beatrice, smiling chillingly as if she had predicted this all along.
‘I-I’ve been tricked.’
He realized everything had been intentional.
Argos hastily tried to target Beatrice again, but—
It was too late.
-Tap.
Beatrice’s wooden sword touched Argos’ neck.
“C-cowardly!”
Argos protested in frustration.
Beatrice smiled brightly at him and said,
“I won, Argos.”