How to Survive as a Trash Extra Villain

Chapter 109

The training ground’s stands were packed with external dignitaries.

“Look, Lieutenant. That’s Sir Gulart, Platinum Knight of Guagar Kingdom.”

“Captain, you’re a Platinum Knight too.”

“But so many Platinum Knights in one place? First time since the Platinum Numbering.”

Lieutenant Derzo scanned the crowd.

The least were Silver Knights, with several Platinum Knights from distant lands. Imperial knight commanders, royal guard leaders, top mercenary captains—big names abounded.

“They say this generation’s the golden batch… Looks true, Captain. Remember our mission?”

“Hmm, yeah.”

Derzo’s superior, Celina, grinned, half-listening as she surveyed the scene.

“Oh, Derzo! Look! That must be the cadet waiting room!”

“…Captain Celina, are you even listening? These first-years are critical.”

Prince Kazaks, heir to the imperial throne, heirs of the Four Great Ducal Families, other nobles, prestigious families, and an uncanny number of gifted commoners.

Ignoring Derzo, Celina said what she wanted.

“They say Academy graduates are at least Silver Knights. Not an empty claim, with this crowd.”

Derzo sighed, responding.

“This first-year batch is an unprecedented golden generation. By the way, this is your first Cadet Duel Assessment, right?”

“Yup. Been busy with Time Chaos Dungeons. To think I’m only now seeing this fun.”

“…Captain, it’s not fun—it’s scouting talent.”

“I know, I know.”

Since the Cosmos Empire’s fall, even petty wars vanished, yet the world still craved power.

Dungeons and monster lairs remained threats, but the biggest was the Time Chaos Dungeon that destroyed the Cosmos Empire. Humanity’s forces were mostly deployed there.

If only internal stability held. But recently, demon worshipper groups were rising, stretching resources thin.

“So, any good candidates?”

“Now you ask, Captain…? Tch, here’s the list.”

Over half the cadets were from prestigious families, making scouting tough.

“All commoners?”

“Mostly. Some are fallen nobles.”

“Let me see.”

Platinum Knight Celina flipped through the chart, pausing.

“Hmm, Gilbert?”

“Impressive, right? Commoner… well, intel suggests he might be from fallen nobility.”

“Top 10 in both practicals and academics, never slipping? An unexpected gem.”

Relieved Celina had an eye for talent, Derzo explained.

“Scouts estimate Cadet Gilbert’s at the cusp of Bronze Knight.”

“Huh, international law caps first-years at Iron Knight… Impressive.”

Flipping further, Celina spotted an odd profile.

“…Not fallen nobility, but a runaway noble…?”

She spoke informally, stunned. Derzo, guessing who, said flatly, “Yeah, him. Don’t bother.”

“Martin von Targon Ulvhadin.”

“Trash.”

“Trash?”

Celina turned, and Derzo nodded.

“Yup, trash. Called a prodigy as a kid, but his growth stagnated, and his personality soured. Barely got into the Academy. Got disciplined for assaulting cadets. Quiet now, but… nothing to see.”

While Derzo rambled, Celina’s superhuman vision compared the chart’s photo to someone in the waiting room.

“…So, what I’m saying…”

“Derzo, this kid’s worth watching.”

“Huh?”

“He’s got something.”

Derzo, a Gold Knight, couldn’t grasp Platinum Knight Celina’s insight.

Just another of her quirks, he dismissed it.

***

The Cadet Duel Assessment. The festival’s highlight.

I checked my hunting rifle, inspecting bullets.

“Tch.”

Here I was, in the first-year waiting room, prepping my weapon for my turn.

Around me, some cadets looked grim.

“Ugh, why am I in this lineup…?”

“Top 50 practicals per grade, but what’s a 50th-ranked first-year supposed to do…?”

‘My turn’s soon.’

The duel assessment was simple. Cadets of similar skill, by grade and rank, faced off one-on-one. Win or lose, that’s it.

Starting from 50th-ranked first-years. Prep moderately, fight moderately, stand out moderately.

‘No encore, please.’

The audience was the variable. They had encore rights. If over half called for an encore, you fought again. No limit.

Per the original story, Gilbert would fight seven times.

If one person got an encore, a random opponent was picked, but if another also got one, they’d match. An encore meant a high chance of facing Gilbert.

‘Worrying, but I’ll be fine.’

A scorned gun user. A trash extra villain, Martin. With some acting, they’d dismiss me as a showoff.

‘Even if, by some fluke…’

If fate pitted me against Gilbert—

‘I’m prepared.’

Lessons from Nerjin, the Nameless Revolutionary, and the Star Child. I’ve grown stronger.

The waiting room door opened, and an assistant teacher staff appeared.

“Called cadets, prepare and enter the grand training ground.”

Groaning cadets shuffled out. Soon, ten small arenas in the training ground filled with cadets.

“Begin!”

Ten duels started simultaneously. No usual cheers from the stands—just thousands of piercing gazes.

Matches varied. Some ended quickly, others dragged fiercely.

Then—

“Next cadets, prepare. Cadet Martin?”

My turn. My opponent…

“Whoa! Didn’t expect to fight like this!”

Bord. The living fortress of the Tauforos Ducal Family.

“Let’s do this!”

“Likewise.”

“Take your positions. Any words, now.”

The referee addressed us. We locked eyes. I had nothing to say.

“Hey, Martin.”

“…?”

My grudge against the protagonist party had faded… somewhat.

Except for Gilbert, I’d talk to anyone. Bord wasn’t a bad choice. Warm but neutral when it mattered, doing his duty without crossing lines. He owned and apologized for his mistakes.

“Actually, I’m grateful.”

“….”

“I often wonder ‘what if you weren’t here?’”

“….”

If I, Martin, hadn’t been here.

“Would we have grown this much? Or died already?”

That’s the original story. The raw tale I got from Recola.

“You noticed and stopped things we missed or couldn’t handle. Like the Time Chaos Dungeon. Impressive.”

Why bring this up now? He got to the point.

“Elisha told me you’re not that bad.”

“….”

“Mary said you’re kinder than you seem.”

“….”

“Even quiet Lina said you’ve changed.”

“….”

“Even Gilbert. He feels… guilty. Wants to apologize but doesn’t know how. Did you know?”

“…No.”

I had no idea the protagonist party thought so highly of me.

“Hey, Martin. We’re curious about you.”

“….”

“We’re sorry, and grateful.”

“….”

“If you ever feel like it…”

“….”

“Let’s sit down, open our hearts, and talk honestly.”

“….”

Bord’s words were sincere, but I couldn’t respond. How could we have an honest talk?

Thinking my silence ended it, the referee approached.

Bord raised his shield.

“Now…”

Facing the over-2-meter Bord felt like staring at a mountain.

“The match…”

A true titan.

“Begins!”

Boom! A sound echoed. Bord’s step forward.

‘Incredible!’

He charged like a tank, shield first. I fired my rifle, but—

Ping! A weak sound as the bullet hit the shield, bouncing off like a dry leaf.

“Brace yourself, Cadet Martin!”

“…!”

No good. I couldn’t counter that juggernaut charge head-on. Bare-legged, he outdid a cavalry charge.

‘But slow!’

I relaxed, feeling the breeze. At the perfect moment, I leaped. My body flipped mid-air, head down… as Bord reached my spot.

I fired a piercing bullet at his upturned face.

A raised shield blocked it.

‘As expected of Bord.’

In the original, Bord was a fortress. An invincible shield, unbreachable.

‘Obvious shots won’t work.’

‘He’s nimble! I’ll just tire myself out!’

As Martin thought, so did Bord. He stopped charging, advancing slowly with his shield.

‘Come on, Martin!’

As if in sync, Martin attached a dagger to his rifle and rushed in.

“Brace yourself!”

Bord swung his angled shield wide. Its edge slashed fiercely, but—

“Eek!”

“….”

“Urgh!”

“….”

No matter how fiercely he swung, Martin dodged effortlessly, as if reading every move, creating an overwhelming wall.

‘But I’m not the only one burning out!’

Clang! A dagger grazed Bord’s side, snapping its blade.

‘Tch, that didn’t work either.’

Even a mana-infused dagger couldn’t scratch Bord’s armor or protective aura.

“….”

“….”

We stepped back, regrouping.

‘Time to get serious.’

Again, winning wasn’t my goal. Avoiding attention was.

‘I should forfeit.’