The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent – 40
EP.40 Hunting (4)
The original game's battles were typical of Japanese RPG, but with unique twists within the turn-based system. However, its battle system struggled to tell stories through fights. It couldn't show large-scale battles, unlike strategy RPGs, which would have been better suited for depicting World War I trench warfare. Some games had even attempted this. But perhaps in an effort to maintain the series' identity, this game adopted a relatively traditional JRPG combat style, which created challenges for expressing situations solely through battles.
Anyway.
The method chosen by the developers was “consecutive battles.” After finishing one battle, the story would transition to an event scene, then move to the next battle, and so forth. If the players won all three battles, they would successfully capture the makeshift trench. However, if they lost at any point, they would be eliminated. The downside was that they wouldn't receive any reward items for their efforts. In truth, these items were only slightly helpful at the beginning. It was not very important, but...
It still felt unpleasant to think of someone else getting them. After all, in the game, I had claimed all such items for myself. Having some memory of what might happen in the future and not being able to reap those benefits felt like there was no point in being transported to this world.
Not that I had chosen to come here.
Moreover, it could negatively impact the image I had built in this world. I had cultivated the persona of someone who could handle anything, and I didn’t want to create the impression of “Oh, she can’t even do this.”
... Maybe I should have just created the image of someone who avoids annoying situations.
Besides that, there were many other things I wanted to confirm. Especially regarding items obtained “systematically”—like when a message pops up saying, “You have obtained ●●● as a reward for success.” I was curious about how that would play out in reality, considering there wasn't a status screen in this world.
I understood that if something was systemically blocked, it would be entirely feasible in reality. But what about areas where the "system" was involved beyond the worldview or storyline?
To confirm that, I needed to win here.
"Light...?"
After hearing my words, Mia Crowfield seemed to enter a moment of contemplation before appearing to grasp what I was thinking.
“But if you emit a bright light, it will also block your vision, right?”
Mia Crowfield's skepticism made sense.
After all, light wasn’t something that only certain people can see. If someone couldn't see it, it would mean there's a significant issue with their optic nerves or brain.
There were magics related to illusions, but deploying them on such a large scale, affecting dozens of people, was impossible. At least, I had never seen such magic throughout my game completions. However, I've seen magic where a giant hand emerges from the sky and shoots lasers though.
"...Why are you looking at me like that?"
Mia Crowfield asked, taking a step back as I continued to stare at her.
Yeah, in the game, it was just a visual effect designed to look as cool as possible. Just like the special attacks in the Super Robot Wars series. Whether indoors or outdoors, you could just use those skills without any restrictions.
But how would such skills or magic function in reality?
That was something I’d need to confirm eventually. I also had to remember that, if mishandled, that magic could be directed at me.
"Is it possible?"
It should be. It was possible in the original story.
Mia was best at ice and water magic, but that didn't mean she couldn't use other kinds of magic. In the game, there were 'simple spells' that could be used without extra stuff and 'spells that needed extra stuff.' Her specialty wasn't especially strong, but having those simple spells let her use other spells more easily.
And her 'magic attack power' was really strong. Other characters could use the same spells if they had the right equipment, but because they didn't have any simple spells, they couldn't use many spells, their magic attack power wasn't good, and they didn't do much damage.
At this point, Mia Crowfield was the only character who could wield such magic.
"..."
She didn't seem pleased with my silent questioning, but eventually, Mia Crowfield nodded.
Good, that was how it should be.
Even though she had shown hostility in the student council room, Mia Crowfield had said she would join the student council if I did. Whether we became friends or not, she needed to be around me to find evidence that I killed her father and possibly take revenge if the opportunity arose.
It was impossible to clarify the misunderstandings with Mia regarding her father’s actions right now. Given the atmosphere, even if I calmly explained it while alone with her, she wouldn’t believe me. Who would want to accept that their father was a drug addict and a pedophile?
It would be better to give her time to come to terms with it.
"But this magic staff..."
“It’s not intended for killing, so it shouldn’t be a big problem. If you could just send ‘bright light’ as far as possible, that would be enough.”
"..."
In the original story, everyone charged forward blindly, eyes covered. They succeeded in the end, but both Leo and Jennifer agreed that it was a risky approach that shouldn’t be tried in real life.
But what if there were a variable like me here?
Not by chance, but by necessity.
Of course, what I planned to do relied entirely on coincidence.
Well, from the opponent's perspective, only necessity would remain.
I shifted my gaze slightly and noticed Jennifer observing me intently, her face filled with curiosity. It seemed she had developed a bit of interest in me since our last duel.
Jennifer was likely aware of the rumors surrounding the “Children of the Emperor” and the questions related to the death of Count Crowfield.
“Then, let’s proceed this way.”
When I turned back to my squad, I noticed Mia Crowfield was right behind me. The fact that nobody tried to prevent her from leaving proved how afraid they were of me.
Or maybe Mia Crowfield didn’t really get along well with the people here.
*
“…Leaving us aside for the moment.”
Alice said, looking at me with a serious expression after hearing my plan.
“What are you going to do? You won’t be able to shoot properly if you can’t see ahead.”
"I can provide covering fire."
“…And you’re sure you won’t hit us by mistake?”
“I’m sure.”
“…Well, alright then.”
Alice, who had no doubts about my skills, eventually agreed to my words.
“But still, no matter how skilled you are, if you can’t see ahead—”
"Sylvia said it's fine."
Claire cut off Leo's skeptical remark.
...Originally, this was your plan, Leo. Well, back then, you didn’t have anyone offering to shoot behind your back.
Claire seemed to have more than just confidence in my abilities—her belief in me bordered on a sort of faith. But I could set that aside for now.
Charlotte was squinting her eyes as she looked at me. Her gaze carried both doubt and, strangely, some kind of certainty. She must have heard something from her father.
"I agree. We don't have any other options."
Charlotte finally said.
“So, when should we head out?”
Alice asked me, now that everyone was on board.
"The timing is—"
Just as I was about to explain my thoughts on the timing…
"Chargeee!"
A loud shout rang out from the group that Mia Crowfield had been part of a moment ago.
"Now."
I said, looking over at Mia Crowfield. She seemed startled for a second but then stood up, preparing to cast a spell—
"Mia Crowfield! Out!"
— Only to get shot before she could finish her spell.
... Let’s try that again.
*
"Now!"
I said, immediately standing up and looking at the enemy side. I aimed at an opponent who had just poked their head out and fired, resulting in an immediate elimination notice for them.
"Luxina!"
Light!
It was quite interesting to hear the original language of the game world, the spirit language, and human language overlapping. Now that I thought about it, despite being in a world where magic played a significant role, this was my first time witnessing magic firsthand.
For a moment, my vision turned completely white, and then I saw that ball of light flying far away. It felt more like looking at an incredibly bright lamp than a flashbang. It was like staring directly into the high beams of an oncoming car. But unlike car headlights, this light spread in all directions.
From what I could see, the light was blinding the enemies just as much as it was blinding us. From our side, it was hard to even make out the silhouettes of the people on the other side.
I heard the sound of Alice, Charlotte, Claire, and Leo leaping over the sandbags. They each had a shotgun in hand.
Well, alright.
The operation had begun.
That meant I only had to do my part.
With the quickest motion possible, I pulled the bolt back, ejecting the spent cartridge, and loaded the next round. The process felt oddly satisfying.
I had already spotted the enemy’s position several times.
Click!
Of course, hitting them was another matter entirely.
I pulled the trigger, but there was no “Eliminated!” announcement.
In that case—
Again!
*
I jumped over the sandbags only when those who had charged ahead were almost out of sight.
It wasn’t because of distance, though. The massive light hovering in the sky had obscured them.
Whatever her feelings toward me, Mia Crowfield had faithfully followed my orders and cast the light spell repeatedly, lighting up the sky with glowing orbs.
In the meantime, I had taken down several enemies. Seven? Eight? I didn’t really remember since I was shooting so quickly. However, since I had to swap guns after shooting one enemy per shot, it had to be at least six or more.
Just before standing up again with my shotgun, which held one round in the chamber and five in the magazine, I spoke to Mia Crowfield.
“You stay here and cast the spell one more time.”
She nodded stiffly, her expression hard.
After all that, she’d likely follow my instructions.
Even if she didn’t, it wasn’t a big deal. I’d figure out a way on my own.
By now, the others should have reached the trenches.
With that thought in mind, I stood up and jumped over the sandbags.
"Ah!"
Only to trip and fall face-first.
"…."
A moment of silence.
For a brief second, I wondered if the entire battlefield had gone silent, but no, that couldn’t be right. It was just my imagination.
Probably only Jennifer, who was observing from above, and Mia Crowfield, who was watching from behind, had seen me fall.
How embarrassing.
Let’s try again.
*
Fortunately, this time I didn’t fall. Upon closer inspection, there was a small stone in front of the sandbags. I must have tripped over it.
Alright.
Satisfied that I had jumped over the sandbags more gracefully this time, I started running forward. I avoided looking up at the light and kept my gaze low, advancing in a zigzag pattern.
No gunfire came my way.
I figured that students from the other noble squads had managed to get past the sandbags, too. I could hear footsteps and the sounds of something being swung on the other side, which suggested they were panicking as well.
After sprinting with all my strength, I spotted another sandbag pile, even brighter than the midday sun. Gathering all my energy, I dived into the cover of the sandbags.