How to Survive as a Trash Extra Villain

Chapter 94

Our timing overlapped.

Only then did we meet each other’s eyes.

Perhaps due to his experience, Teacher Faris spoke first.

“You go first.”

“Then…”

Despite the awkward air, I had to convey the apology I hadn’t yet given.

“I’m sorry about your brother. It’s ridiculous to apologize now after all this time, but I never intended to make him a laughingstock.”

The Quesharow County had been on a relentless decline since the footage from the Eudialyte Desert ruins was released.

Of course, as a prestigious family with many active archers, including Faris, they wouldn’t fall entirely.

But producing a demon worshipper was a fatal stain.

“Hmm, you were about to say the same thing as me.”

Faris scratched his head with a sheepish smile, looking at me with his squinted eyes and faint smile.

“I wanted to say you don’t need to feel sorry for me. Rumors and the past aside, from what I’ve seen, you seem sensitive to wounds.”

Sensitive to wounds…

“Only those who’ve been hurt know pain. You learn to empathize with others’ pain only after being hurt yourself.

Of course, some naturally kind people can empathize without such experiences…”

Oh, I see.

“So you don’t need to feel sorry for me. We’re proud nobles. Our family, and I as a brother and noble, failed to stop Nelson, so it’s only right that we make it known to the world and take time for reflection.”

I realized why Mary and Princess Adela became friends.

Both had been hurt.

By the world’s malice.

Adela, obviously, and Mary, who, despite being the eldest daughter of the Deminiyan Family, was half-abandoned.

From childhood, she was sensitive to people’s malice, growing up timid and looked down upon by her younger sister, Shuga.

Recently, rumors spread that she destroyed one of the Empire’s two finest mana stones to cover up my actions during the Helaine terror incident.

Despite appearances, the pressure and persecution she faces from her family must be immense.

“Thank you, rather. For stopping my brother. If it hadn’t been then, who knows how far he would’ve fallen…”

Seeing it this way, it wasn’t strange at all that two seemingly different girls understood and accepted each other.

“Let’s at least greet each other when we meet at the academy. Oh, and you’re welcome to join the archery club. Cadet Martin would be welcome anytime.”

“Thank you for the offer.”

“Hey! Martin! Where are you?! Get over here!”

“Hehe, Princess Adela is calling for you, Cadet Martin.”

“Sigh.”

Leaving Faris, who waved lightly, I headed toward Princess Adela and Mary.

I wasn’t alone.

Elisha had come too, responding to Mary’s SOS signal.

“What’s going on?”

“This thing won’t do!”

The weapon in Princess Adela’s hand was, surprisingly, a gun.

A hunting rifle similar to mine.

But adorned entirely in gold, fitting for the Golden Princess.

‘Princess Adela with a gun. I never imagined it.’

It was fascinating.

“Why a gun all of a sudden…?”

“What! Why! Is there a law saying I can’t shoot a gun?!”

“No, that’s not it…

Fine, I’ll show you.”

Taking the golden gun, I positioned myself at the shooting range.

Princess Adela watched intently from the side.

“Watch closely. The principle of firing a gun is simple. Loading and shooting. It’s the repetition of these two. First, you break the barrel to expose the chamber, then eject the spent casing…”

Wild Instinct (Lv 3) is certain that the Princess’s eyes are looking more at your face than the gun!

“Princess, are you watching properly?”

“O-Of course.”

“…Then you insert the appropriate bullet into the chamber. Place the casing backward, close the barrel. That’s loading done. Firing is simple. After loading, just pull the trigger. The hammer, made of mana stone at the back, strikes the bullet’s rear, reacting with the mana stone powder in the casing, causing an explosion. That’s how the bullet is fired.”

Her persistent gaze made my face tingle.

“There are rifling inside the barrel, silencers made with magic, or magic bullets, but those are for advanced users, so just knowing the names is enough for now. First, let’s start with the basics of aiming.”

I stood upright at the shooting range, assuming a firing stance.

I aimed at the target ahead.

Aligning the sight, foresight, and target, I fired.

Bang!

The sound echoed through the shooting range.

A brass flash pierced straight through, and a hole appeared in the target’s center.

“That’s how it’s done.”

“Hmm, I get the gist.”

Princess Adela took her position at the shooting range.

‘Wow.’

Adela, holding the golden gun, was… truly beautiful, like she wasn’t of this world.

Not as a rational being, but as a divine masterpiece.

After a brief silence, the gun fired.

The golden flash hit slightly off the target’s center.

“Well, how was it? Did I hit it properly?”

I hate to admit it, but…

“For a first shot, it’s excellent. You might have talent.”

“Hahahahaha! As expected! Everyone, bow your heads! I permit you to offer praise!”

This Princess, really…

I turned at the sound of soft clapping and saw Mary, her eyes sparkling, clapping for Adela.

“Wow…!”

Meanwhile, Elisha approached me.

“Um, Cadet Martin.”

My body flinched instinctively, but… thanks to the Eudialyte ruins incident, some of the tension with Elisha had eased.

I don’t know if we’ll ever be close, but it’s not like before when I’d outright ignore her.

“What is it, Cadet Elisha?”

“Well, a crossbow… it seems closer to a gun than a bow. If you’re not busy, could you help Mary? You’re already teaching guns, so…”

I looked at Mary.

She was holding a crossbow with both hands, looking at me.

‘Ugh.’

Even among the protagonist party, Mary is unique.

Her likable personality, her background, and the debt of the finest mana stone.

It’d be hard for timid Mary to ask directly, so I should go to her.

…Or so I thought.

“U-Um!”

Mary called out to me first.

Trembling, she approached, took a deep breath, and shouted confidently,

“C-Cadet Martin! The c-crossbow! If it’s okay, please teach me!”

The illusion of steam rising from her head must be my imagination…

Her face, flushed red, showed she’d mustered great courage by her standards.

“I’ve never shot a crossbow myself, so I’m not sure, but if that’s okay, I’ll do it.”

“W-Wow!”

Mary’s eyes sparkled as she held out the crossbow.

Princess Adela, watching from the side, nodded.

‘A crossbow, huh.’

Know-It-All (Lv 3) has analyzed the crossbow’s structure, operation, and aiming method.

Wild Instinct (Lv 3) instinctively grasps the most proficient stance.

Firearm Proficiency (Lv 6) applies to a very small extent.

It was surprising that Firearm Proficiency applied even slightly, since a crossbow is distinctly different from a gun.

“I’ll give it a try.”

Crossbows are generally considered easier than bows, but they have pros and cons.

“With a crossbow, you can store more power than a bow. Not with one hand’s strength, but like this.”

I positioned the crossbow’s muzzle downward, stepped on it, and pulled the string.

“It stores power with your whole body. That also reduces the burden of firing.”

Holding the crossbow with both hands, I aimed.

Pulling the trigger, a heavy twang sounded as the bolt shot out, embedding itself in the target’s center.

“Wow.”

“Oh.”

Mary and Princess Adela let out small gasps of admiration.

Elisha, watching from the side, muttered,

“Reloading looks tough. There’s almost no rapid-fire capability.”

“Correct.”

“Hmm.”

“To be honest…”

I hung the crossbow on the weapon rack.

“There’s no real reason to use it.”

“W-Well, actually…”

As Elisha hesitated to say something, Mary spoke up.

“T-Then, what weapon would be good for me?”

“…What kind of weapon would you like?”

“I… even if I can’t use magic, I at least don’t want to be a burden to my friends…”

That’s when I understood why Mary suddenly wanted to learn the crossbow.

Just as I run around to prevent the apocalypse, the protagonist party is busy doing the same in their own way.

“There was a situation like that, I see.”

“Y-Yes. That’s why… I don’t want to be a burden…”

Looking at Mary, her head bowed, I thought she was admirable.

Her personality isn’t exactly lively.

She’s timid.

Sometimes frustratingly so.

But she’s also a girl with courage.

“No one thinks you’re a burden. Look at Elisha beside you. I, too, believe you have great value as an individual. Your intentions and thoughts are admirable, Cadet Mary. But… a crossbow isn’t it. It doesn’t suit you.”

After scouring the weapon rack, I found a small projectile weapon, neglected and abandoned.

“This would be better.”

I held it in my right hand, supported it with my left, and tried various stances.

It felt good.

The weight was decent.

The rusty, unremarkable weapon was a pistol.

A type of small gun with a revolving cylinder magazine.

“It’s good for self-defense.”

I infused it with mana.

Since it hadn’t been used in a long time, feeding it plenty of mana would reduce malfunctions.

I broke the barrel, revealing a cylindrical chamber that could hold six rounds.

I began loading bullets one by one.

After filling the cylinder and closing the barrel, I spun it once.

Despite the rust, it rotated smoothly with mana as lubricant.

“Watch closely.”

I holstered the pistol at my waist, then quickly drew it, aimed at the target, and fired.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Six consecutive shots rang out, followed by the click of an empty chamber.

I opened the cylinder, removed it entirely, and inserted a new one.

I fired six more shots in rapid succession.

When the shooting stopped, silence fell over the range.

The rapid gunfire had drawn everyone’s attention.

I blew on the smoking barrel, emitting blue and black smoke.

“It’s this easy to operate.”

I handed the pistol to Mary, who received it politely with both hands.

“T-Thank you.”

A cool breeze blew.

My hair fluttered, and the smell of mana powder was swept away.

“Um, Cadet Martin.”

“Yes.”

“You said this pistol is for self-defense, but how is it different from the long gun you use?”

At this point, there’s a set answer.

But I’d already explained too much.

So,

“Farther.”

Simply.

“Stronger.”

Boldly.

“It can shoot bullets to kill enemies.”

I gave only the essentials.